December 27, 2022

European Commission adopts notice concerning movement of veterinary medicines from Great Britain

The European Commission has adopted a notice which extends to December 31, 2025, the current arrangements for the movement of veterinary medicines from Great Britain to Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Northern Ireland.

This will ensure the continuity of supplies of veterinary medicinal products, in particular to Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU means that EU pharmaceutical rules no longer apply in the UK. Under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, these rules apply in Northern Ireland. This has created difficulties for many EU or Northern Ireland established operators which relied on the supply of veterinary medicinal products from or through parts of the UK, other than Northern Ireland.

To ensure the continuity of supply of veterinary medicinal products and allow operators sufficient time to adapt their supply chains, the commission adopted on January 25, 2021 a notice providing for flexibility in the application of EU rules until December 31, 2021. At the end of 2021, it was clear that the situation remained challenging for market operators. Therefore, on December 29, 2021, a further extension was granted until December 31, 2022.

The new notice includes an Action Plan, with clear milestones, that requires authorities to identify the precise veterinary medicinal products at risk, and to provide information about the measures they, or the relevant operators, are taking to comply with EU rules on veterinary medicinal products.

- European Commission