Global Supply Chain

The EU’s General Pharmaceutical Legislation amendment proposal, which was published on 26 April 2023 (“the Proposal”), is introducing new measures to regulate decentralized manufacturing, which is increasingly used for certain categories of medicinal products.  In particular, the Proposal introduces new obligations for manufacturers and for national competent authorities overseeing

Continue Reading EU Pharma Legislation Review Series: Decentralized Manufacturing

As part of the EU’s General Pharmaceutical Legislation amendment proposal, published on 26 April 2023 (“the Proposal”), the European Commission (“Commission”) has introduced a series of measures aimed at securing the supply of critical medicinal products across the EU and at preventing shortages.  In particular, there are new obligations

Continue Reading EU Pharma Legislation Review Series: Supply Security and Shortages Control

The relationship between the UK and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) came into sharp focus recently, as US President Joe Biden visited ROI.  Biden’s visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement 1998 (GFA) which brought an end to 30 years of Troubles in Northern Ireland (NI).  The UK government will have welcomed the fact that President Biden described the Windsor Framework (WF) as one of two pillars (along with the GFA) which are key to future peace and prosperity in NI.  The WF is also fundamental to the recent improvement of the tripartite UK-EU-ROI relationship.

The Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) was part of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and sought to square the circle of respecting the GFA, whilst maintaining NI’s place in the UK Single Market. But the Unionist community in NI felt the NIP left NI being treated differently from the rest of the UK – a feeling which led to the 2022 suspension of the Stormont Assembly. The negotiation of the WF demonstrated a new and welcome willingness of the UK and the EU to negotiate mutually acceptable solutions to some of the problems created by Brexit (even if the WF has not (so far) achieved one of its objectives of re‑starting power-sharing at Stormont).

What has Changed under the WF?Continue Reading The Implications of the Windsor Framework

Complex international pharmaceutical supply chains often separate the physical flow of product from financial flows or flows of legal title. Tune in to this episode of Covington’s Life Sciences Audiocast, where Grant Castle, Robin Blaney and Marie Doyle-Rossi, discuss how the EU and UK pharmaceutical rules seek

Continue Reading EU Talking Life Sciences Audiocast: Episode 4 – EU and UK Pharmaceutical Regulation of Tax Structures and Financial Flows – Implications for Global Supply Chains