Leaving Europe could offer ‘exceptional opportunity’ for Veterinary Medicines Directorate
IN another Brexit related talk, Sarah Norton, from theVeterinary Medicines Directorate, said leaving the EU could provide an ‘exceptional opportunity’ for the VMD.
Norton, project lead on the VMD’s transition team, explained how medicines will be regulated in the transition period, and what future opportunities could look like.
As an independent third country, the UK will be an equal partner in its dealings with all countries, including the EU.
‘We’re hoping to strike a new and positive relationship with the EU but acting independently on an international stage.
‘In terms of what this means for the VMD, during the transition period we will not be attending any EU meetings and therefore we will not be voting on any EU veterinary medicine products.
‘We will still be inputting as a concerned member state.And we can also still exchange data with the EU as that’s of mutual benefit to both of us.And we can continue to access the EU’s IT system so we can carry on our procedures.’
In the transition period, said Norton,‘we’re not asking for anything bespoke or special or unique, we just want the same as they already have with other friendly countries, like Canada or Australia’.
The government accepts that this does come with some possible consequences for market access to both sides.
The government is also seeking free trade agreements with other countries, such as the US.
The VMD is playing a key role in those negotiations – both for the EU and the rest of the world - in relation to veterinary medicines, animal health and the environment.
The UK market must maintain or even increase its attractiveness to pharmaceutical companies for investment, as well as leading the way in veterinary medicine regulation and animal health and welfare.
‘The UK’s position outside the EU gives the VMD an exceptional and massive opportunity,’ said Norton.
‘We are looking forward to taking forward our domestic interests… we are in a position to help the UK act independently on an international stage, and to go further maybe than we could have done with the EU in protecting and enhancing animal welfare, public health and the environment of this country.
‘We have the opportunity to demonstrate that the UK can not only be a European leader but a global one in the field of veterinary medicine and animal health and welfare.’
Cascade
Norton also gave details of the Cascade, which allows veterinary surgeons flexibility to use products that are not authorised for species or conditions within the UK.
Designed to avoid unacceptable suffering in animals, vets can use their clinical judgement when prescribing under the Cascade.
The Cascade is a risk based decision tree, where the prescribing vet must consider each level in turn,‘which means you cascade down the list, hence the name’, she said (see details right).
The Cascade will not be changing during the transition period but what it will look like at the end will depend on what is agreed with the EU over the next few months.