Cable Forum - Britain outside the EU

...since Brexit there has been almost zero investment in the UK generics industry compared with £4bn in Europe, with manufacturing output down by one-third in the decade to 2021.

All these things have complex causes, but Samuels [boss of the British Generic Manufacturers Association who supply 4/5 of NHS drugs] points to two major Brexit factors.

First, he says budget cuts and restructuring at the UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), have led to a doubling of wait times to get generic medicines approved.

So in 2019 it took 12 to 15 months for the agency to license generic medicines. But as a result of Brexit the MHRA lost the EU regulatory approvals work that provided 20 per cent of its budget. Now (December 2023) it takes 24 to 30 months to get a generic drug licensed.

“The MHRA currently has a backlog of approximately 500 generic medicines to license. The agency licenses 35 to 50 generics per month as its maximum capacity, so a 500-medicine backlog is over a year’s logjam,” Samuels says.

This can be fixed with more money. The resourcing of the UK’s post-Brexit regulators is out-of-whack with the country’s ambitions to be a “science superpower”. A Labour government could start to address that.

Second, under the terms of the UK-EU trade deal, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) does not recognise “batch-testing” (checking medicines conform to standards) that is done in the UK. This has to be done in Europe — so, just as Michel Barnier warned, the UK would not be allowed to become a “certification hub” off the coast of Europe.

...But Samuels argues for a bigger-picture view. In a world of pandemics, narrowing global trade blocs and the US no longer guaranteeing European security, a UK that was deeply committed to the European neighbourhood ought, he says, to be able to reframe narrow issues, such as medicines and cars, more broadly.

“If you were to think of medicines as a regional security issue, you’d want the whole of Europe, including the UK, to be resilient. The world has changed. We have two wars now in Ukraine and the Middle East and colleagues minded to take a regional perspective ought to be open to the issue of batch-testing.”

There are a series of big leaps there, but given the state of the world at the moment, it is worth both sides lifting their gaze to the horizon.

Source: Britain after Brexit newsletter. FT.com

Paul	18-01-2024 19:47

Re: Britain outside the EU

So basically, that list boils down to "This can be fixed with more money."

Where do they think that money going to come from ? and how is it related to Brexit ?

mrmistoffelees

26-01-2024 07:26

Re: Britain outside the EU

Oh dear….

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68098177

1andrew1

26-01-2024 09:26

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36168517)

So basically, that list boils down to "This can be fixed with more money."

Where do they think that money going to come from ? and how is it related to Brexit ?

If you've got money for tax cuts, you've got money to restore the power of the regulator to pre-Brexit strength. Per the article, the regulator was cut as it lost its income stream for EU approvals. In 2019 it took 12 to 15 months for the agency to license generic medicines. In December 2023 it takes 24 to 30 months to get a generic drug licensed.

That's why generic drug manufacturers are not expanding in the UK. They're important as generic drugs account for 80% of drugs used by the NHS.

---------- Post added at 09:26 ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees (Post 36168946)

Oh dear….

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68098177

Quote:

It will also mean the UK's trading terms with Canada will now be worse than when it was part of the EU's deal with the country.

British car companies now face the prospect of higher tariffs - import charges - to sell into the Canadian market from the start of April.

Higher Canadian tariffs on British cheese had already kicked in earlier this month, after the previous terms expired at the end of 2023.

Let's hope this can be sorted, especially for our car industry which is our biggest export to Canada.

Sephiroth

26-01-2024 09:40

Re: Britain outside the EU

About the hormone treated Canadian beef: do you want that or not?

Damien

26-01-2024 10:16

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36168954)

About the hormone treated Canadian beef: do you want that or not?

I don't for sure, nor do I what what Americans do to their chicken.

But I think it highlights the problem with all these trades we were meant to sign after Brexit.

Sephiroth

26-01-2024 10:23

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36168957)

I don't for sure, nor do I what what Americans do to their chicken.

But I think it highlights the problem with all these trades we were meant to sign after Brexit.

It certainly highlights a problem with specific countries after Brexit. But surely not "all".

The trade-off for Brexit is sovereignty vs the EU umbrella. As we chose sovereignty, all we need is a competent government.

1andrew1

26-01-2024 10:42

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36168954)

About the hormone treated Canadian beef: do you want that or not?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36168958)

I think a key issue is that the trade deals are not rolled over indefinitely. As we're a smaller player than the EU, we stand a chance of getting a poorer deal or no deal at all (hopefully less common) when they're up for renegotiation. In terms of what we can offer in trade deals to other countries, our hands are tied due to the need to have no border between Northern Ireland and GB and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The sovereignty box may be ticked but the reality on the ground is somewhat different.

Sephiroth

26-01-2024 11:52

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36168959)

Badenoch has ruled it out. It can't get into the UK food supply chain as it would be problematical for Northern Ireland's borders with GB and IE.

---------- Post added at 10:42 ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 ----------

I think a key issue is that the trade deals are not rolled over indefinitely. As we're a smaller player than the EU, we stand a chance of getting a poorer deal or no deal at all (hopefully less common) when they're up for renegotiation. In terms of what we can offer in trade deals to other countries, our hands are tied due to the need to have no border between Northern Ireland and GB and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The sovereignty box may be ticked but the reality on the ground is somewhat different.

The "sovereignty box" stands on its own and is not linked to other consequences.

All this boils down to the Remainers wishing to have preserved the then status quo (disregarding the 'ever closer union' stuff) versus the Leavers wishing to have UK sovereignty and expecting a competent government to facilitate growth of the economy.

1andrew1

26-01-2024 13:06

Re: Britain outside the EU

Rees-Mogg throwing his toys out of the pram again! Reality seems to be that devolved government in Northern Ireland requires closer alignment with the EU for all of the UK.

Quote:

Rishi Sunak has offered to sacrifice some of Britain’s Brexit freedoms in a bid to appease the DUP and re-establish devolved government in Northern Ireland.

The Daily Telegraph reported the Prime Minister had pledged to introduce a requirement that would see all new laws screened in a bid to ensure they will not create extra trade barriers in the Irish Sea.

Downing Street hopes it will persuade the DUP to end its two-year boycott of Stormont.

The offer has, however, angered Tory MPs after some warned introducing such a policy would make it almost impossible for Great Britain to diverge from EU rules and moves to take advantage of Brexit freedoms risk being blocked by officials in Whitehall.

All legislation would have to be accompanied by a ministerial statement confirming it did not have a “significant adverse effect” on internal UK trade.

The new system would mirror the one being used to screen new bills for their compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.

The DUP left Stormont in February 2022 in protest at the Irish Sea Border and has refused to return until the checks on goods agreed with the EU in the Windsor Framework are scrapped.

The Windsor Framework was a renegotiation of the original Brexit deal and reduced red tape, but has been pushed by unionists to go further.

Mr Sunak's latest offer would give the DUP an effective guarantee that the UK would not pass laws in the future that would create more trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, said: “This means we will not diverge at all, and we will have ended up with Theresa May’s Chequers deal in all but name.

“I voted against the Windsor Framework because it subordinates part of the UK to the EU. This mechanism would restore part of the EU hegemony over us.”

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...799742753.html

---------- Post added at 12:25 ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36168958)

As we chose sovereignty, all we need is a competent government.

But you're not prepared to put your money where your mouth is and vote for one! You have advised that you will re-elect the existing government. :confused:

---------- Post added at 13:06 ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 ----------

How it started in 2021:

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36064472)

Happy Independence Day...Which new markets should we be exploiting after the US?

How it's going three years later:

Quote:

Sephiroth

26-01-2024 13:53

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36168967)

<SNIP>
But you're not prepared to put your money where your mouth is and vote for one! You have advised that you will re-elect the existing government. :confused:<SNIP>

No - not quite. I said that as a Conservative party member, I couldn't vote against them. You can read between the lines that I would vote for my friend John Redwood. That's not voting to re-elect the existing government.

But I won't dodge the real point you are making which is that the Tories need throwing out (as punishment for their incompetence/shitshow and other sins). But the front-runner alternative will be worse in just about every direction.

The politicians are the bad eggs here - their breed now works against us, by and large.

1andrew1

27-01-2024 15:53

Re: Britain outside the EU

Last chance to stock upon on your fresh EU treats before the Brexit price hikes.

Quote:

New regulations intended to protect biosecurity by imposing controls on plant and animal products mean the UK is "going back in time," according to British importers and European suppliers.

The government's modelling says the new controls will cost industry £330m, while the grocery industry has warned that £200m could be added to fresh fruit and vegetable prices should checks be introduced in the future.

There is also the prospect of delays caused by inspections of faulty paperwork, which could derail supply chains that rely entirely on fast turnaround of goods.

British importers have told Sky News that the new rules, which have already been delayed five times in three years, will add up to 17% to shipping costs, leading to higher prices for consumers.

European companies and industry groups say the controls are unnecessary as they replicate checks already made in the EU, and that Brexit is adding bureaucracy and cost to dealing with the UK.

The new import controls are a consequence of Britain having left both the single market and the customs union when the trade and co-operation deal with the EU came into force in January 2021.

While UK exporters to Europe were immediately subject to customs rules, the British government waived import controls to avoid damaging the economy and food supply.

On five occasions since 2021 ministers planned and then cancelled their introduction, in part because of fears that interrupting food supplies from the EU would exacerbate the cost of living crisis.

Almost 80% of UK vegetable imports and 40% of fruit comes from Europe.

Dutch flower wholesaler Heermskerk Managing director Nick van Bommel "We're going back in time. They want to have health inspections that we haven't carried out for more than thirty years, and now from next week on we start again," he said.

"It won't help anybody, but it will make an awful lot of costs and somebody has to pay the bill at the end. I'm 100% sure that the last customer, the British consumer, has to pay for this."

Freddie Heathcote, managing director of Green & Bloom, calculates his shipping costs will rise by up to 17% - and the knock-on to consumers could be increases of 20% to 50% once the physical inspection regime is in place.

"We have been told the charge for consignments crossing at Dover or Folkestone will be £20 to £43 per category item listed on the consignment.

"We imported 28 different consignment lines tonight from one supplier, which would be £560 to £1,204 to clear the border control point on a total invoice of £7,000. That's between 8% and 17% additional cost on an average import for us."

https://news.sky.com/story/why-chees...rules-13057056

ianch99

29-01-2024 12:08

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36169029)

Last chance to stock upon on your fresh EU treats before the Brexit price hikes.

https://news.sky.com/story/why-chees...rules-13057056

Yes, as mentioned above, the Brexit Bad News Bus has been busy recently:

- The UK gave up on negotiations to extend our trade deal with Canada, leaving us worse off than when we were an EU member:

https://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68098177

- New incoming border checks will add £200 million a year to the cost of our food and drink:

https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/brex...d-veg-imports/

- MPs were warned that the EU's upcoming ETIAS/EES border systems may lead to up to 14-hour queues to enter (the rest of) Europe from the autumn:

https://itv.com/news/2024-01-25/traf...urope-mps-told

- There were warnings of possible shortages of flowers for Valentines Day because of the new incoming border checks:

https://news.sky.com/story/roses-are...he-eu-13056060

- A plan to extend visas for British expats in France from 90 to 180 days was blocked by France's Constitutional Council court (a decision which has no right of appeal):

https://lbc.co.uk/news/french-court-...rance-90-days/

- The EU's plans to increase bulk medicine procurement across the bloc risk creating shortages in Britain because they have very significantly greater buying power than the UK does:

https://theguardian.com/science/2024...cord-shortages

Pierre

29-01-2024 12:21

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99 (Post 36169090)

- The UK gave up on negotiations to extend our trade deal with Canada, leaving us worse off than when we were an EU member

I thought you'd be pleased that we decided not to import Hormone filled beef?

Quote:

- New incoming border checks will add £200 million a year to the cost of our food and drink:

https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/brex...d-veg-imports/

- MPs were warned that the EU's upcoming ETIAS/EES border systems may lead to up to 14-hour queues to enter (the rest of) Europe from the autumn:

https://itv.com/news/2024-01-25/traf...urope-mps-told

- There were warnings of possible shortages of flowers for Valentines Day because of the new incoming border checks:

https://news.sky.com/story/roses-are...he-eu-13056060

- A plan to extend visas for British expats in France from 90 to 180 days was blocked by France's Constitutional Council court (a decision which has no right of appeal):

https://lbc.co.uk/news/french-court-...rance-90-days/

- The EU's plans to increase bulk medicine procurement across the bloc risk creating shortages in Britain because they have very significantly greater buying power than the UK does:

https://theguardian.com/science/2024...cord-shortages

Heard it all before, we've had nothing but stories like this for 8+ years. The world didn't end. Very little, if anything, about Brexit has impacted my life, and I doubt any of the above will either.

mrmistoffelees

29-01-2024 12:46

Re: Britain outside the EU

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre (Post 36169091)

I thought you'd be pleased that we decided not to import Hormone filled beef?

Heard it all before, we've had nothing but stories like this for 8+ years. The world didn't end. Very little, if anything, about Brexit has impacted my life, and I doubt any of the above will either.

1. Without accepting the imports of hormone filled beef we’re unlikely imho to get a decent deal, something which as part of the EU we would have more ‘clout’ albeit we would be not be able to dictate terms (not that we can now) as as we’re a smaller negotiating partner im not sure where we will be able to dictate terms with partners that really count.

2. Agree, not much of an impact to me personally, but the full impact isn’t being felt yet ?

---------- Post added at 12:46 ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36168966)

This sovereignty which we’ve reclaimed. What practical changes & benefits have we actually utilised that we hadn’t whilst we were still an EU member ?

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