UK signs £86m freight contract for medicines following Brexit

The government has signed up to £86.6 million worth of freight capacity contracts to help ensure medicines can enter the UK after Brexit.

The transport secretary Grant Shapps announced that Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O and Stena Line will be able to match the capacity of thousands of HGVs every week from 31 October. The contracts are the first of the government’s freight capacity framework and will be in place for six months.

To help ensure medicines can flow freely into the UK, the freight operators will focus on ports and terminals that aren’t predicted for potential disruption in the event of a no deal. They will provide shipments across 13 routes from eight ports: Teesport, Hull, Killingholme, Felixstowe, Harwich, Tilbury, Portsmouth and Poole.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The UK is getting ready to leave the EU on the 31 October and, like any sensible government, we are preparing for all outcomes. Our decisive action means freight operators will be ready and waiting to transport vital medicines into the country from the moment we leave.”

The announcement follows news that the government has banned exports on 24 medicines to protect NHS patients.

The government’s freight procurement framework will be in place for the next four years with operators being able to freely bid on shipping contracts for additional capacity.

Discussing the capacity contract, Brittany Ferries UK managing director John Napton said: “Brittany Ferries is pleased that it has been selected to provide guaranteed freight capacity on three routes. We have the flexibility in both our fleet and route network to allow us to help UK government with the shipment of critical products like medicines in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

“In the last weeks, we have been working on a series of Brexit dry-runs, to ensure that freight keeps moving whatever framework we face on 31st October. These dry runs have involved ports on both sides of the channel, customs staff, border force and other partners. We are confident that we have made the necessary preparations for all our customers, including the Department for Transport, to ensure that freight keeps moving as seamlessly as possible.”

Commenting on the announcement, Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said: “Today’s announcement gives companies valuable extra detail to help finalise their plans for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit. This capacity is an important part of our members preparations – stockpiles are also in place, and some companies have already sourced their own alternative ferry routes. 

“Industry will continue to do everything it can to make sure people get their medicines in all Brexit scenarios, as we have been doing for many months.”