Back to News index

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee report on the impact of Brexit on the pharmaceutical sector

Commenting on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee report on the impact of Brexit on the pharmaceutical sector, Peter Ballard, Chair of Medicines UK, who gave oral evidence to the committee, said: "We fully support the report's key finding that the Government must secure a post-Brexit deal for the pharmaceutical industry ensuring the closest possible regulatory alignment with the EU and the minimum border friction possible or risk harming patients. 

"Brexit remains a significant risk to the continuous and undisrupted supply of medicines, both long term and particularly in the cross over period as UK leaves EU. If UK and EU requirements diverge over time, the increased complexity and duplications will undoubtedly deter some companies from entering the UK market.

There is a real risk that the UK becomes a second tier country behind the US and the EU with the launch of new medicines being delayed due to different regulatory rules. 

"The continued uncertainty and therefore threat of disruption needs to be resolved quickly as medicines manufacturers are already making strategic decisions and investments for a worst case scenario where the UK is isolated. The proposed transition period from April 2019 is welcomed but must be confirmed. With the date for legal certainty on the transition period slipping, companies are left with no choice but to plan for worst case scenarios in order to protect the availability of medicines for patients and the NHS."