Medical supply firms ‘unsure of border plans’

Stockpiles of thousands of medicines from EU in place – but concern at little time left to sort out transportation arrangements in event of no-deal

Companies involved in transporting medicine into the UK still do not know what will happen at the borders in the event of a no-deal Brexit, industry leaders said.

With five and a half weeks to go until October 31, experts said they have a “very, very significantly compressed timeframe” in which to practically prepare.

Stockpiles, ranging from supplies of six weeks to six months, of the 9,000 medicines that come from the EU, are already in place which will help cushion the effects of a no-deal.

If shortages do become apparent, patients have been warned not to turn to the internet to buy medicines amid concerns they may fall victim to counterfeit supplies.

In the run-up to March 29, industry is understood to have had around two and a half months’ notice from the government of which ferries would have extra capacity for medicines, alternative routes and ports.

Some of the larger companies have already been making alternative arrangements, according to Steve Bates, CEO of the UK Bioindustry Association.

At a Science Media Centre briefing No-Deal Brexit: Are We Facing Serious Medical Shortages?, Mr Bates said there was an “established plan” but that some risks were easier to mitigate than others and the process of moving medicines across the border “remains unclear”.

He said: “Much of this is predicated on an understanding of flow at the border, which has to be at this stage a judgment, we take that judgment from the best information the government give us, and there is still some lack of clarity as to how border will operate in practice in a no-deal scenario.”

Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said it was not “realistic” to expect smaller companies in the supply chain to make alternative arrangements.

He said the industry was concerned about the effects of a no-deal on patients across the EU, and that it was difficult to have conversations about whether the UK would continue to have access to Europe-wide systems.

A no-deal Brexit would mean the UK is no longer subject to the Falsified Medicines Directive that protects patients against counterfeit drugs, while it is unknown whether the country would be able to remain part of the European Medicines Agency.

Picture: PA. Companies involved in transporting medicines say they don’t know what will happen at the borders if there is no deal with the EU.