Vet medicines fear over no-deal Brexit

NOAH, which represents the UK animal medicines industry, has welcomed the publication of the government’s first no-deal Brexit planning notices.

But it said that business remains very concerned about the lack of sufficient time to execute a smooth EU exit process without interruption to the availability of vital veterinary medicines.

NOAH chair Gaynor Hillier said: ‘The production and supply of veterinary medicines is totally dependent on complex international supply chains that must continue to function effectively after Brexit, their unique status being recognised in the recent government White Paper.

‘Raw materials will need to arrive at manufacturing sites and veterinary medicines will need to be transported across borders to meet market requirements.

‘Any border delays, additional complex processes or increased costs will risk medicines avail- ability for UK vets, farmers and all our animals.’

Companies have been carrying out extensive Brexit contingency planning, covering all aspects of their supply chains, from regulatory compliance and stocking levels to logistics and customs.

But, according to a recent NOAH member survey, less than 15 per cent of companies say they are prepared for a hard Brexit, with the vast majority of respondents saying they are not fully prepared should there be a reversion to WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules on March 30, 2019.This is neither through lack of effort, nor unawareness of the need to act, but due to the magnitude of the complex tasks involved in such a specialist sector. Furthermore, because the government has not yet set out the exact arrangements that will operate in the UK in case of a no-deal Brexit, it is very hard for industry to be sure that they are prepared.