UK Prepares Contingency Plan for ‘No Deal’ Brexit

The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) issued a contingency plan for drug products ahead of a possible scenario in which the UK leaves the EU with no prearranged agreements with its former partners.

While the DHSC said it is unlikely the UK will exit the EU without a deal, it is collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to ensure there will be a stockpile of medicines to cope with any delays.

“In the unlikely event we leave the EU without a deal in March 2019, based on the current cross-government planning scenario we will ensure the UK has an additional six weeks supply of medicines in case imports from the EU through certain routes are affected,” said Matt Hancock, secretary of state for health and social care.

For products that have a short shelf life and cannot be stockpiled, suppliers should have plans for products to be transported via air freight. Additionally, the UK will continue to accept products that have been batch tested and released in compliance with EU rules in the event of a no deal Brexit.