The letter from Lord Jay to Lord Frost, Minister of State for the Cabinet Office and Chief Negotiator of Taskforce Europe, details existing and potential problems affecting over-the-counter medicine supplies in Northern Ireland under the Protocol, as set out by Michelle Riddalls in her appearance before the committee on October 20.
As well as drawing directly on the evidence given in person by Michelle Riddalls and other expert witnesses, Lord Jay’s letter refers to written information provided to the committee by PAGB.
It asks Lord Frost a series of specific questions on matters including medicines licensing arrangements, the scale of any likely withdrawal of products from the market in Northern Ireland and the impact of the imminent cut-off date for the ‘grace period’ which delayed the introduction of new rules for medicine regulation in Northern Ireland until the end of 2021.
Lord Jay requests a response from Lord Frost by 6 December.
Michelle Riddalls said:
“I am pleased that the concerns I shared with the committee in relation to over-the-counter medicine supplies in Northern Ireland have been heard so clearly and conveyed in such detail to Lord Frost as he and his team continue their negotiations over implementation of the Protocol.
“PAGB is committed to using its voice on behalf of the consumer healthcare industry and all of those who rely on consumer healthcare products to care for themselves and their families.
“What we need above all is an agreement on the issues affecting medicines supply in Northern Ireland that is negotiated and supported by all of the parties involved.
“I look forward to Lord Frost’s response.”
