Renew MEPs led by Malik Azmani have asked the European Commission how it plans to close cross-border loopholes that allow illegal drug websites to reappear after national enforcement actions. The written question, submitted on 15 July 2026, warns that criminal networks are exploiting gaps in the EU's digital enforcement framework, enabling the continued sale of harmful substances across the bloc.
The question follows an April 2026 action by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) that removed websites offering addictive designer drugs and illegal medicines. Recent investigations, however, found that eight of those sites have since returned by relocating their domain names to servers outside the Netherlands, undermining national enforcement and exposing consumers across the EU to dangerous products.
whether it is aware of such cases, whether it agrees that current cross-border enforcement is insufficient, and which EU instruments or new legislative measures could improve the removal of illegal drug websites. The question does not set specific numerical targets or deadlines but signals a push for stronger EU-level coordination.
Policy orientations point toward greater EU intervention in digital enforcement, potentially expanding the role of Europol or the proposed EU digital enforcement framework. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it plans to propose new rules or rely on existing instruments such as the Digital Services Act or the EU Drugs Strategy. The outcome could affect national authorities, hosting providers, domain registries, and consumers seeking protection from unregulated substances.