Statement by Dr Martin Zentgraf, chairman of Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie e. V. (BPI) on the decision of Great Britain to leave the European Union
The Brexit is also a setbackto the achievements of the availability of medicinal products in Europe. With uniform requirements for the authorisation and manufacturing of medicines, the European Union creates prerequisites for cross-national provisionof safe and efficient drugs. The EU established a harmonised internal market enabling the free movement of medicines which ensures the provision and availability of pharmaceuticals across borders.Last but not least, the European Union facilitates and supports cross-national research and development to a degree that would be impossible for individual countries. The close ties of Great Britain inside the European Union are a characteristic feature of the pharmaceutical industry. We are mutually connected by trade relations that have grown over decades and that now need to be put on a new footing in a short period of time – as far as possible. The United Kingdom and Germany are strong pharma locations. Our companies will have to make major efforts to overcome the new bureaucratic obstacles that we will be facing in result of Great Britain leaving the European Union. So far, the European Medicines Agency in London – EMA, for short – is the centre for the evaluation and authorisation of medical products. The Agency will need to relocate. In the future, these procedures will be organised in a different place. This should not bring any additional burden for pharmaceutical companies. Even more than by the sum of all economic and administrative problems, we are hurt by the exit of our British friends that might end good cooperation in the European Union.” The Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie e. V. (BPI) representing the broad spectrum of the pharmaceutical industry at national and international levels More than 240 companies within 73.000 Employees are organized in the BPI. Contact: Julia Richter (spokeswoman), #. 0049 30/27909-131, jrichter@bpi.de