As anticipated by the industry on both sides of the English Channel, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued its latest guidance to suppliers on the government’s no-deal contingency planning. The guidance provides operational details on shipping routes between the EU and the UK and the introduction of the Dedicated Shipment Channel to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medical products.
To minimise the risk of significant delays to medicines and medical devices entering the UK, the Government has secured additional ferry capacity as an alternative supply route. Suppliers will be able to purchase tickets for the government-secured capacity and should have already received an email to enrol onto the ‘DHSC eXchange’ portal. The Dedicated Shipment Channel involves a logistic operation set up by the DHSC to move products into the UK in the event a supplier’s arrangements are disrupted by Brexit. Registration for the Channel is now live and can be accessed here. Eligibility is subject to registration and should be completed as soon as possible.
The above builds upon the DHSC’s recommendations for suppliers to source alternative routes across the English Channel in the event of a no-deal scenario and the Office for Life Science’s notification that the pre-registration scheme to use the priority routes would soon be open.
The guidance can be found here. Further details on the Dedicated Shipment Channel can also be accessed here.
