News about GMP/cGMP

20.07.2018

UK votes to participate in EMA after Brexit

On 17 July 2018, the Members of the British Parliament voted 305-301 to continue a close collaboration with the EMA after Brexit. This amendment to the Brexit Trade Bill on ‘UK participation in the European medicines regulatory network’ means that British Government is now 'in charge' to negotiate an active and full participation in the EMA following the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU.

Following the vote, the British government confirmed that it would make an 'appropriate financial contribution' in return for this level of participation. The vote was more than welcomed by the British BioIndustry Association , the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and the Drug Safety Research Unit, DRSU.

In a joint statement on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry in the UK, Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, and Steve Bates, chief executive of the BioIndustry Association, said:

“Today, Parliament has sent a clear message that patients and public health should be a top priority for the Government in these negotiations. Every month, 37 million packs of medicine arrive in the UK from the EU and 45 million move the other way. Therefore, it is essential that the UK continues to participate in the EMA after Brexit, as set out in the Brexit White Paper and in the Prime Minister’s Mansion House speech.”