Joint ABPI-BIA statement on the Northern Ireland Protocol

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, has written to Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission about the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The letter says: "Arrangements on medicines agreed last December should be extended for a further year at least to 1 January 2023. We must also immediately resolve for Northern Ireland patients all outstanding practical issues on medicines; and set out a long-term approach that will ensure no barriers of any kind to the movement of medicines into Northern Ireland."

In a joint statement, Richard Torbett, Chief Executive, ABPI and Steve Bates, CEO, BIA, said:

“Our industry welcomes the proposal by the UK government to extend the arrangements on medicines in Northern Ireland agreed last December for a further year at least until 1 January 2023.

“A period to enable the MHRA, EMA and all EU27 regulators to work together, and with industry, to agree a common understanding of the protocol is much needed to help resolve all outstanding practical issues on medicines.

“The guiding principle for this work must be to ensure continued access to medicine and medicinal products across the island of Ireland, and both the UK government and the EU should take all possible steps to achieve this.”