Asked by: Lord Lennie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to remove UK export bans on medicines introduced as a response to COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
There is no export ban on medicines. There are restrictions on exports by holders of a wholesale dealer licence of some medicines put on the United Kingdom market for UK patients. The restrictions have been in place since October 2019. They are aimed at stopping companies from diverting medicines, which have been put on the market for UK patients, to other markets. The restrictions do not apply to medicines manufactured and intended for other markets.
The restrictions are not a response to COVID-19. However, because of COVID-19 more medicines meet the criteria for listing. The restrictions currently apply to under 200 medicines which are in shortage or at risk of being in shortage in the UK. The list is under continual review and medicines will be removed when they no longer meet the criteria.