# UK-wide licensing for human medicines: supplementary guidance

Source: https://www.keypedia.com/records/uk_mhra_guidance/uk-mhra/18dc4ae9-d155-47cb-8df8-14a87849390e
Type: Guidance
Published: January 31, 2025

> The Windsor Framework, effective January 1, 2025, implements a new regulatory framework that establishes a single, UK-wide licensing regime for all medicinal products. Under these arrangements, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) assumes full responsibility for authorizing medicines across the entire United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. This replaces the previous system where the European Commission authorized novel medicines for Northern Ireland. While the provided document does not cite a specific company name, inspection dates, or violations, it outlines the mandatory transition for all pharmaceutical firms operating in the UK. The main issue addressed is the previous regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is now resolved by ensuring the same packs and packaging are available across all regions. Required actions for manufacturers include ensuring all new medicinal products are licensed through the MHRA for the whole UK market. This change streamlines distribution and ensures that patients in Northern Ireland have access to the same medications as those in the rest of the UK at the same time. Companies must now adhere to this unified MHRA licensing process to maintain compliance with the updated UK law and the Windsor Framework's provisions.

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## Content

The Windsor Framework introduces a UK-wide licensing regime, meaning that the same medicinal products, in the same packs with the same packaging will be available across the whole UK. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will license all medicines across the UK, including novel medicines, which under the original Northern Ireland Protocol had to be authorised for Northern Ireland by the European Commission. This information is to help understand the main changes affecting the licensing of medicines for human use in the UK, introduced by the Windsor Framework’s medicines arrangements which came into effect on 1 January 2025.

## Attachments

- [UK-wide licensing for human medicines: supplementary guidance ](/government/publications/uk-wide-licensing-for-human-medicines-supplementary-guidance/uk-wide-licensing-for-human-medicines-supplementary-guidance)