Third of EU drugs watchdog workers will quit when body leaves London after Brexit
The European Medicines Agency had previously thought a fifth of staff would leave when it moves its HQ to Amsterdam
A THIRD of workers at the EU drugs watchdog are expected to quit when the body leaves London after Brexit.
The European Medicines Agency had thought a fifth of staff would leave when it moves its HQ to Amsterdam.
But it is now cutting back work to focus on “core” activities after the figure rocketed, leaving it unable to cope.
The EMA, which is responsible for ensuring medicines are safe and effective, described the exodus as “significant”.
It added: “The temporary cuts in activities are required because it has also become clear that the Agency will lose more staff than initially anticipated.”
The organisation has a recruitment programme in place ahead of the move in March next year.
The news comes as drug firm Sanofi announced it is stockpiling in case a no-deal Brexit causes supply and transport issues.
Sanofi UK boss Hugo Fry said: “Patient safety is our main priority and we have made arrangements for additional warehouse capacity in order to stockpile our products.
“Sanofi will hold 14 weeks stock in the UK as from April 2019, which is an increase of our current in country holding of approximately 10 weeks stock.”
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last month that the government is working with industry on stockpiling plans.
Sanofi also announced plans to move some of its quality control activities out of its Haverhill manufacturing facility in Suffolk to alternative sites in Europe.
It said that this will lead to 12 job losses.
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