UK Parliament Narrowly Votes to Remain in EMA

The UK’s parliament voted to remain in the European Medicines Agency after the country’s 2019 departure from the European Union.

The 305-301 vote means the UK’s participation in international drug regulations will be a major negotiating objective during Brexit negotiations. It came one week after EMA reported major preparedness gaps among UK drugmakers.

The UK BioIndustry Association said “it is essential that the UK continues to participate in the EMA after Brexit,” noting that every month, 37 million packs of medicine arrive in the UK from the EU and 45 million move the other way.