European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič announced, on Monday 19 December, an agreement with the British government to extend the current arrangements of continuous supply of veterinary medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus until 31 December 2025 (Northern Ireland is still covered by EU rules and the other three countries have always depended on the UK for their supplies of medicines).
“We have taken steps (on Monday) to ensure this continuity”, the vice-president said in a short press briefing. Noting that the agreement comes against a backdrop of positive exchanges with the British government, Mr Šefčovič assured that this atmosphere could also benefit “other areas” of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the provisions of which on the terms of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are still being negotiated between the UK and the EU.
The adopted decision includes “an Action Plan, with clear milestones, that requires authorities to identify the precise veterinary medicinal products at risk, and to provide information about the measures they, or the relevant operators, are taking to comply with EU rules on veterinary medicinal products”, the Commission explains in a statement.
At the end of 2021, the Commission had already decided to extend the current arrangements by one year only, noting supply difficulties linked to the UK’s exit from the EU. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)