Parliament votes for UK to stay in EMA

The UK Parliament has voted in favour of the UK’s continued participation in the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

On Tuesday, July 17, the House of Commons voted 305 to 301 to approve a new clause in the Brexit trade bill which confirms that the UK’s continued participation in the European medicines regulatory network is a negotiating objective.

According to an explanatory statement, the clause will help guarantee that “patients continue to have access to high-quality, effective and safe pharmaceutical and medical products”.

Back in March, UK Prime Minister Theresa May revealed that the UK would be willing to remain part of the EMA after Brexit.

This was followed by the publication of the government’s latest White Paper on Brexit, in early July.

As part of the proposal, the UK wants a common rulebook for human and animal medicine products so that manufacturers need to undergo only one series of tests in either market (the UK or EU).

The paper also provides for the UK’s continued participation in the EMA with the UK becoming an active participant that contributes financially (but has no voting powers) and UK regulators acting as a “leading authority” for the assessment of new products.

However, the vote means very little until the position on the EMA has been agreed with the 27 EU states.

Last November, in a move sparked by Brexit, London lost the EMA headquarters to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.

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