ABPI response to proposed UK-EU trade negotiation approaches

The UK Government and the European Commission have today set out their proposed approaches to negotiations over the future relationship between the EU and the UK.

In a Written Ministerial Statement, the Prime Minister has said that annexes to any agreement could include provisions facilitating trade in specific sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, as well as mutual recognition agreements focusing on conformity assessment. We welcome this.

In its recommendations to the European Council, the European Commission has said that it will seek to establish as close as possible a future relationship with the UK, in line with the Political Declaration, which commits both sides to work towards cooperation on health security and explore participation by the UK in the European Medicines Agency. We welcome this too.

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the ABPI, said:

“We share the Government’s ambition of making the UK a leading global hub for life sciences and an internationally competitive trading partner with the EU and the world.

“We are optimistic that both sides will be pragmatic about the need to work together on some essential aspects of medicines regulation and be open to exploring continued cooperation and collaboration in the interests of public health, patient safety and driving progress in medical science.

“The UK and the EU have agreed as much in the Political Declaration, and as negotiations get underway it is paramount that they continue to put patients first.”