EMA relocation decision provides some certainty for life sciences industry, and some challenges; a legal view

The long awaited European Medicines Agency relocation decision provides some certainty to the life sciences industry in an otherwise uncertain Brexit process, according to Helen Kimberley, a lawyer in Hogan Lovells' Commercial and Regulatory team, said.

The EMA will start working with its new host country – the Netherlands - immediately and has just over 17 months to conclude the move. By comparison, it took the EMA three years to move into its new offices in Canary Wharf, London, in 2014 so the time scale could be challenging.

"The fact that a large proportion of the population speak English and that Amsterdam is so internationally well-connected will make the transition easier for staff relocating. It has been reported that a significant number of senior staff at the EMA have already been lost since the referendum and others were expected to follow depending on the location chosen. Amsterdam is likely to be popular amongst the EMA's staff reportedly being ranked as the top choice in a leaked EMA staff survey with 81% of EMA staff saying they would be willing to move there, which will give some comfort to industry,” noted Ms Kimberley.