Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking ensure that UK pharmaceutical and medical companies will not be disadvantaged by unregulated imports from EU companies if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The Government is committed to the safe and effective regulation of medicines in the United Kingdom; we continue to strengthen safety while ensuring patients and the public have fast access to new, innovative medicines.

On 7 March 2019, Parliament voted to agree legislation that would, in the event the UK left the European Union without a deal, amend the UK’s regulatory framework for the safe supply of medicines to the UK.

This legislation would see the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency take on the functions currently undertaken by the EU and operate as a standalone regulator for human medicines on the UK market. The provisions include the introduction of various checks and balances on the medicines supply chain, including those imported from the European Economic Area, which will be required to comply with the same regulatory requirements as medicines from the UK.