Dr. Lorraine Nolan:

Within the European network for the regulation of medicines there is a very extensive protocol and procedure in place for the exchange of information on counterfeit medicines. These European systems will keep going after Brexit. We have a very close working relationship bilaterally with our counterpart agency in the United Kingdom, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, MHRA. We have set up a process for engagement at frequent interval. The sharing of information on supply chain integrity will be included in that protocol. Radiopharmaceuticals is an issue on which have had extensive discussions with our colleagues in the UK agency also. We have also agreed to work bilaterally to support each other. As colleagues from the Department of Health have indicated, these are products with a very short shelf-life. The maximum they possibly have is 24 hours or less. They have a discrete usage and are only intended for particular patient groups. Therefore, there is no competition between two markets for them. It is a matter of working to ensure we can keep the flow moving. We have a commitment from their side that they will work with us to ensure this happens.