NI Protocol: 'Alarm' at uncertainty of supply of animal medicines in NI - BBC

A radical of MPs person expressed "alarm" astatine uncertainty implicit the availability of veterinary medicines arsenic a effect of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The proviso is covered by a "grace period" owed to expire connected 31 December.

The EU Scrutiny Committee said afloat exertion EU rules would permission perchance fractional of each veterinary medicines facing discontinuation.

But the authorities said that portion talks connected the protocol continue, it does not mean to use the EU regulations.

The protocol means Northern Ireland is inactive wrong the EU's pharmaceutical regulatory system.

However, it gets astir of its medicines from Great Britain, which is not.

Earlier this twelvemonth the EU changed its laws successful an effort to assistance guarantee supplies of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, but that statement does not screen veterinary medicines.

Earlier this year, the committee wrote to the UK agriculture curate expressing "profound concerns" astir the issue.

In effect the minister, Lord Benyon, said the impending deadline had been raised with the EU and features successful existent talks.

He has sought to connection reassurance that if nary solution is reached. the authorities "reserves its close to instrumentality enactment to guarantee that animals successful Northern Ireland tin proceed to entree the veterinary medicines and vaccines they need".

The committee said: "It is alarming that specified uncertainty hangs implicit the availability of veterinary medicines connected the Northern Ireland wrong a substance of weeks.

"We are pleased that the authorities is continuing to property the European Commission to find a solution and enactment that the UK is acceptable to instrumentality unilateral enactment if necessary.

"We trust, however, that astatine slightest a short-term solution tin beryllium identified earlier 31 December, pending a longer-term solution to the issue."