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UK Details Next Steps in Northern Ireland Protocol

Date: July 23, 2021 | Country: IRELANDUNITED KINGDOM | Region: EUROPE | Type: European UnionOther | Keywords: #brexit #cabinet #ireland #kingdom #northern #protocol #united

PRICENTRIC BRIEF:

  • The UK’s Cabinet Office has released its “Northern Ireland Protocol – next steps” following ongoing post-Brexit negotiations between the UK and Northern Ireland
  • Since the UK left the EU, the trade situation between the UK and Northern Ireland has been contentious, and the Protocol hopes to allay a number of issues that are still prevalent—According to the document, the current Protocol has only “partially delivered upon its objectives. The border between Ireland and Northern Ireland has been successfully maintained without infrastructure or checks, and the EU Single Market has been protected. However, the Protocol has not delivered on some of its other core objectives, notably the explicit commitments to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and to avoid disruption to everyday lives”
  • Under the current protocol, medicines are at risk of discontinuation due to hurdles in reaching the small Northern Ireland market, which could make some supplies unviable— The current arrangements are creating “considerable” challenges, according to the Cabinet, with medicine supply to patients in Northern Ireland being put at risk for a number of 20 products from the end of 2021

THE DETAILS

LONDON, United Kingdom— The UK’s Cabinet Office has released its “Northern Ireland Protocol – next steps” following ongoing post-Brexit negotiations between the UK and Northern Ireland.

Since the UK left the EU, the trade situation between the UK and Northern Ireland has been contentious, and the Protocol hopes to allay a number of issues that are still prevalent.

According to the document, the current Protocol has only “partially delivered upon its objectives. The border between Ireland and Northern Ireland has been successfully maintained without infrastructure or checks, and the EU Single Market has been protected. However, the Protocol has not delivered on some of its other core objectives, notably the explicit commitments to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and to avoid disruption to everyday lives.

“In particular, although most of the trade covered by the Protocol remains within the UK customs territory and internal market, under its terms each and every movement is subject to the same extensive processes that are designed to manage third country trade into the EU. That is leading to disruption to supply chains, increased costs, and reduced choice for consumers, and unnecessary boundaries that risk causing wholesale diversion of trade or economic damage in Northern Ireland.”

Under the current protocol, medicines are at risk of discontinuation due to hurdles in reaching the small Northern Ireland market, which could make some supplies unviable.

The current arrangements are creating “considerable” challenges, according to the Cabinet, with medicine supply to patients in Northern Ireland being put at risk for a number of 20 products from the end of 2021.

The European Union has suggested a solution, but it is potentially complex to operate because of its need to work within the broader EU framework for regulating medicines. Additionally it would not satisfactorily deal with certain medicines (such as new cancer drugs) which must be licensed by the European Medicines Agency.

The new document notes: “Given the range and depth of these challenges, the simplest way forward may be to remove all medicines from the scope of the Protocol entirely.”

In a response to the Protocol update, Richard Torbett, Chief Executive, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “It’s clear that medicines remain high on the agenda, but our issues still need to be resolved. We urgently need the UK and the EU to agree a way forward on how the Protocol will work for patients in Northern Ireland, and provide companies with the time, support, and assurances they need.

“With time running out, it is critical that all possible solutions are fully explored and considered together with stakeholders, in the best interests of patients.”

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