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<p>The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the Office of Life Sciences,
and the Department for Exiting the European Union are leading our work in this area.</p><p>
</p><p>Medical devices are important for transforming health outcomes, and our top
priority for the Life Sciences sector in the negotiations is to protect the safety
of patients and ensure the integrity of cross-European public health systems.</p><p>
</p><p>After the European Union referendum, the UK EU Life Sciences Steering Group
was established to oversee a programme of work that is informing our departure from
the EU. The group’s remit includes people and skills; research and grants; intellectual
property; regulation and trade, manufacturing and supply - to organisations including
the National Health Service.</p><p> </p><p>Regarding potential transposition of any
changes in EU law, the general approach taken in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
is that EU law which applies directly in the UK legal system immediately before exit
will be converted into domestic law after exit. The purpose of the Bill is to provide
a functioning statute book on the day we leave the EU, and it is designed to ensure
that the United Kingdom exits the EU with certainty, continuity and control. After
we leave the EU, Parliament will be free to change the law where it decides it is
right to do so.</p><p> </p><p>In the negotiations the Government will discuss with
the EU and Member States how best to continue to cooperate. We start from the position
of having an aligned regulatory partnership and any changes should consider the impact
on patient and public health. However, we appreciate that this is a negotiation, so
we are prepared for all eventualities. Whatever the outcome we will protect the best
interests of patients and the NHS.</p>
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