Debate contribution: Veterinary Medicines

Debate contribution by Lord Elliott on 21 May 2024.

MLA: Lord Elliott
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 21 May 2024
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Veterinary Medicines
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4491509

Text

I beg to move
I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. The issue is broadly a matter between the European Union and the United Kingdom Government, but it is important that our Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and our Minister take a proactive role in trying to, at least, encourage and put forward proposals that will help to resolve the matter. Following the UK's exit from the European Union, the whole of the United Kingdom remained aligned with European Union rules on veterinary medicines. However, under the Windsor framework and EU regulations, new rules were applied to Northern Ireland that would seriously restrict the level and number of veterinary medicines available in Northern Ireland. That number, obviously, has some contradictions. The UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate has said that 51% of veterinary medicines will not be available, and the British Agriculture Bureau has stated that 85% of products authorised in Northern Ireland are registered in Great Britain and has suggested therefore that 85% of products would no longer be compliant with European Union rules. That is a massive amount of veterinary products that would no longer be available, no matter how you look at it. That is extremely critical to Northern Ireland. A European Commission notice that was published in December 2022 extended the existing grace period for veterinary medicines until 31 December 2025, following which, EU rules will apply in full unless an alternative solution is reached. In January of this year, the House of Lords European Affairs Committee's Windsor Framework Sub-Committee launched an inquiry into veterinary medicines and the Windsor framework. The Sub-Committee's inquiry examined the consequences of the outworking of the regulation and what impact it would potentially have on the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland. There was consensus among the inquiry witnesses that the full application of the EU rules at the end of the grace period may seriously restrict the range of veterinary medicines available and the availability of products in different pack sizes. Further, there are particular concerns about the ability to import certain medicines, such as botulism vaccines, which are fundamental to controlling disease in Northern Ireland. Witnesses to the inquiry outlined the serious economic effects for their respective industries, primarily food, farming and agri-food, but also show animals, such as horses and pets. As a number of witnesses pointed out, the rural economy is an essential part of the social fabric of Northern Ireland, and anything that affects the economic viability of that industry may have serious social, as well as economic, consequences. Industry experts were also keen to stress the link between animal and human health, particularly for food-producing animals. Serious concerns were raised from witnesses that the loss of veterinary medicines may have consequences for public health in Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland. While I have no major issue with the Government's decision to establish a veterinary medicines working group, there are questions as to what more it can or will do beyond the House of Lords inquiry, as its key objectives include establishing a shared understanding of issues facing the supply and availability of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland following the end of the grace period, which is 31 December 2025, and reviewing evidence with a view to providing a recommendation to the UK Government on solutions to safeguard the supply of veterinary medicines. Most of those issues have been part of the inquiry. It is vital that the working group does not add to the delay in finding a resolution to the matter, as time is not on our side. I note that the Government have indicated in the Command Paper:
"While ... an agreed outcome with the European Union ... remains our clear priority ... we will if necessary deploy all available flexibilities to safeguard and sustain the supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland."
I am interested to know what the "available flexibilities" are. Do they go as far as what is contained in the amendment, which is to introduce legislation to ensure that there is no divergence between Northern Ireland and GB? I do not know whether legislation to do that is possible. If it is, what would be the result for the trade of products into the EU from Northern Ireland when those products have been potentially treated with veterinary medicines not licensed by the EU? Witnesses to the inquiry expressed their concern at the current pace of progress and emphasised the urgent need to find a solution well in advance of the end of the grace period, particularly given the upcoming European Union and UK elections. Witnesses stressed that commercial decisions, which could have ramifications for the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland for years to come, are being taken now. As I highlighted, it is vital that the working group does not slow up progress to a resolution. It would be helpful if the UK Government were to seek an extension to the current grace period to allow time to put in place any agreement that may be found and to allow the industry time to prepare for such changes. Questions have been raised as to whether a solution for veterinary medicines, comparable to that reached between the UK and EU on human medicines in the Windsor framework of February/March 2023, can be found. The risk, as the EU sees it, is that the UK has left the European Union and is no longer applying the European veterinary medicines regulations; therefore, there is a future risk of veterinary medicines that no longer align with the European Union veterinary medicines regulations entering Northern Ireland and being used in food-producing animals and that food then moving around the single market. In that context, the British Agriculture Bureau said that a similar solution to that implemented for human medicines could be considered: that is, that medicines with a valid marketing authorisation in GB can be supplied to Northern Ireland. The bureau added that any solution must also respect Northern Ireland's place in the UK single market. The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020 and moved into a transition period for human medicine use in Northern Ireland, which ended on 31 December 2020, with the UK and EU agreeing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on 24 December 2020. A series of actions was taken by the UK and EU to help deliver a positive resolution to the human medicine impasse. On 16 December 2021, the UK Government introduced regulations to establish the Northern Ireland MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) authorised route, which helps to ensure that people in Northern Ireland can continue to access the medicines that they need. That regulatory approach is based on an existing EU directive. It ensures that patients in Northern Ireland can access prescription-only medicines at the same time as patients in Great Britain. All those medicinal products have met the authorised stringent requirements for safety and quality. Doctors, pharmacists and patients in Northern Ireland do not need to do anything differently to prescribe or access medicines through that route. It is a legal measure to help support supply chains into Northern Ireland where required. Surely, with common sense on all sides, a similar resolution can be found for animal medicines. The Ulster Unionist Party was the only political party to make written representation to the Lords inquiry, and, like others, our responses provided options and offered alternatives to resolve the matter. Indeed, unlike other reports, a number of potential resolutions to this problem have been identified. Protecting Northern Ireland's supply of veterinary medicines is critical to the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland. Therefore, I commend the motion.

1,278 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Awaiting analysis

This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification