A Welsh pharmaceutical company has been forced to throw out hundreds of packs of vital cancer treatments for EU patients because of Brexit red tape on exports, MPs have heard. The company, which has not been named, has now moved production to Dublin. Ian Price, the director of the Confederation of British Industry in Wales, said the “mountain of red tape” facing businesses because of Brexit was “terrifying” and had come as a real shock to companies. He told MPs on the Welsh affairs committee that the UK government needed to resume talks with the EU about a relaxation in the rules over medicine supplies because financial support would not help several pharma companies that are having difficulties trading with the EU. “One instance I’m aware of is that they’ve already moved the production of a particular item to Dublin – because they can’t in the time allowed continue to make it in Wales because it’s a time sensitive cancer drug that they were importing into Europe – sadly as a consequence of the arrangement of the deal. “It’s no good they’ve now got 200 or 300 consignments blocked somewhere in the system in Europe and they are having to be thrown,” he said. He was speaking as MPs on the Scottish affairs committee were told that the government had made “catastrophic decisions” on the fishing industry post-Brexit, one of which has led to a ban on live molluscs being traded. It has been “a dreadful first few weeks of trading … there’s no way of sugar coating it,” James Withers, the chief executive of Scotland Food & Drink told them. He was speaking just days after Politics Home revealed that the EU has told the UK shellfish industry that thousands of tonnes of oyster, mussel, clam, cockle and scallop exports were banned from the bloc indefinitely, spelling disaster for the Scottish fishing industry.
Elaine Whyte, executive secretary of the Clyde Fisherman’s Association, said the EU ban on live shellfish was a “massive issue” as it could mean “losing live markets entirely and permanently”. There must a “political intervention” to save UK businesses, she said. MPs on both committees heard of the fears that Brexit barriers would get worse in April when new health checks will be applied to all products of animal origin including meat, pet food, honey, milk or egg products with pre-notification of imports required by the authorities. It means more disruption to the supply chain for food and fish processing production, which relies on elements of ready meals, confectionary and processed food coming from the EU. “1 April is a concern for everybody and they haven’t yet come to terms with 1 January,” Price told MPs. Ian Davies, the head of UK Port Authorities at Stena Line, talked of the devastating impact of Brexit on British-Irish trade. Irish suppliers were bypassing the UK “landbridge” going direct to France or Belgium on new ferry routes laid on to allow truckers to avoid Dover. Although the route added €400 (£351) a load and took six hours longer, Irish suppliers had opted for “ease over cost” amid fears they could be “tripped up” by barriers in Dover. A reduction in traffic in the other direction had also hit Holyhead port where 30% of traffic to Dublin would normally be destined for Belfast. But there had been a “big deflection” with hauliers saying they are now opting to drive the length of the country to Scotland rather than face checks in Dublin port. Price said he had seen “horrific stories of transport price increases since Brexit with one firm, which moves “large capital equipment” to the EU, seeing its costs rise £250,000 in the first month.