European and UK bodies have called for the continued availability of animal medicines for farmers post-Brexit and for animal health to be in the centre of negotiations.
MEPs and the animal health industry from both the UK and EU, gathered to discuss the key issues that must be addressed to enable a continuous supply of animal medicines in the EU-27 and the UK post-Brexit.
The event was facilitated by AnimalhealthEurope in conjunction with UK industry body, NOAH (National Office of Animal Health), and Irish association, APHA (Animal and Plant Health Association).
The panel speakers each addressed what they saw to be the main priorities for safeguarding animal health and welfare after the UK leaves the EU.
Roxane Feller, AnimalhealthEurope, believes animal health should be in the centre of Brexit negotiations as sick animals lead to risk of transmissible diseases.
She said such diseases will undermine food safety and therefore human health. She therefore said negotiations must ensure continued access to animal medicines, maintain the collaboration in the field of transboundary diseases and encourage further innovation in the animal health sector by pursuing scientific cooperation.
Dual labelling
John Keogh, spokesperson for APHA explained that the continuation of dual labelling is critical if Irish vets, farmers and pet owners were to retain access to the full range of animal medicines for animal health and welfare.
“If dual labelling of UK with any EU Member State cannot continue, instantly the current 70% of Irish products that are dual labelled can no longer be sold in Ireland,” he said.
Mr Keogh acknowledged the need for every animal medicine supplied to any EU market to comply with all of the applicable EU regulations and affirmed that he was not seeking to change this, but instead to find a solution that allows dual labelling post-Brexit.
Relocating manufacturing
Dawn Howard, spokesperson for NOAH warned the impact that the UK's exit from the EU will be not just on the UK medicines supply, but on other Member States.
70% of NOAH’s members have UK manufacturing or use UK contract manufacturers, which in some cases supply not just the EU, but a global market.
Relocating manufacturing to the EU-27 by 30 March 2019 will prove incredibly difficult, leading to interruption of supply, she said.
Being able to make all changes to packaging by that date is highly unlikely too. “This means that perfectly safe medicines will go to waste, supply will be interrupted and animals cannot be treated,” she said.
Supply chain restructuring
George Tice, spokesperson for AnimalhealthEurope gave specific company examples of how, despite significant investment in supply chain restructuring and relabelling, it will not be possible to complete the total transition process by 30 March 2019.
“This will result in a significant interruption in the provision of medicines for animals in the EU-27 – an interruption that will be felt predominantly by the vets, farmers and pet owners in Europe that rely on the availability of these products” he said.
The request that George made for an extended transition period to allow supply chains to empty themselves of product that was compliant before 31 March 2019 is one that is echoed industry wide.
'Ensure continuity'
Roxane Feller summarised the key takeout from the evening, that animal diseases do not recognise borders.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure continuity of animal medicines availability for all veterinarians, farmers and pet owners throughout Europe to safeguard animal health and welfare,” she said.
“For that, workable solutions need to be put in place to ensure minimum disruption to product development and approval and to maintain authorisations.
Ms Feller added: “It is especially important that veterinary products that are legally released on the market before 29 March 2019 remain available after the UK departure. We hope the European Parliament will support us in the negotiation.”
