NOAH welcomes Brexit deal
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Fears had been raised that the UK could leave the EU without a deal.
The National Office for Animal Health (NOAH) has welcomed the free trade agreement between Britain and the European Union but warned that there is still the potential for delays around Kent.
Confirming the deal on Thursday (24 December), Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK had completed a “comprehensive Canada-style deal" worth £660billion, that would allow UK goods to be sold “without tariffs and without quotas in the EU market”.
Fears had been raised that the UK could leave the EU without a deal if an agreement had not been met by the end of the transition period.
Welcoming the move, NOAH Chair Jamie Brannan said: “Most veterinary medicines available on the UK market are imported from or via the EU. The EU/GB border is a very important part of the supply chain network and the EU is a key trading partner. The predictable supply of animal health products to the UK needs functioning supply chains that are dependent on the Dover: Calais short straits.
“An EU trade agreement with practical arrangements at borders has always been a key priority for NOAH, to ensure the smooth movement of products from 1st January 2021 onwards, so we welcome the fact that the agreement has been reached.”
“However, the timing so close to the deadline has left little time for the deal arrangements to be put in place and there is still the potential for delays around Kent in the immediate future, outside of the animal health industry's control,” he continued.
“We will be looking at the detail of the arrangements, and look forward to continuing to work with Government and the authorities to help protect the nation's animals by ensuring medicines are available, looking at the opportunities for UK agriculture in future trade agreements and working with government to ensure that the UK remains an attractive market for new animal health product innovation”.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
