British pharma and biotech welcome new Brexit position paper

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the BioIndustry Association (BIA) have responded to the release of the position paper from the government’s Department for Exiting the European Union (EU), Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK.

This position paper has outlined proposals from the UK about the availability of goods in light of the country’s withdrawal from the EU. Within the document it is highlighted that there is ambition for trade relations to remain strong between the UK and EU to maintain the current mutual benefits seen from this relationship. Additionally, the government position is to ensure the ‘freest and frictionless’ trade possible post-Brexit.

“ABPI and BIA welcome the publication by UK government of its position paper on ‘Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and UK’ in support of its negotiations with the EU,” said Dr Virginia Acha, executive director, ABPI, and Steve Bates, CEO, BIA, in response to the publication of the paper. “We welcome this paper’s pragmatic approach, which provides a constructive starting point for arrangements that aim to minimise disruption to vital safety and monitoring processes for medicines and avoid any negative impact to medicines supply.

“As soon as the negotiations resume, we urge the EU and UK to discuss this issue with Europe’s patients front of mind.”