Country · Europe
Pharmaceutical exports to the UK, ready for MHRA authorisation
Progene Pharma supplies UK marketing authorisation holders, importers and wholesalers with generic medicines we manufacture in an EU-GMP and WHO-GMP certified facility. We prepare the dossier, the stability data and the GMP evidence the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency asks for, label in English, and ship to Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway.
- Regulator
- MHRA
- Labels
- English
- Stability
- Zone II, 25 °C / 60% RH
- Main ports
- Felixstowe, Southampton
The British medicines market in brief
The United Kingdom is one of the largest generics markets in Europe, with a very high share of prescriptions filled by generics and strong price competition. Since leaving the EU it has run its own regulatory system under the MHRA, separate from the European one.
Most generics are dispensed through community pharmacies, which buy from wholesalers, and the NHS sets reimbursement prices through a published tariff. Hospitals buy through NHS purchasing frameworks and tenders. Price pressure is strong, and shortages have made dependable supply a priority.
The authorisation is held by a company established in the UK, and every batch is certified by a UK Qualified Person at a site with the right importation authorisation. English is the language of labels and leaflets.
Medicines we supply to the UK
These are the medicines British distributors ask us for most. We make any human formulation to your specification, under your brand. See all human formulations
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Generic prescription medicines
Metformin, amlodipine, atorvastatin, losartan and similar generics in tablets and capsules made to the European Pharmacopoeia, for marketing authorisation holders.
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Generics for NHS dispensing
High-volume active substances such as metformin, amlodipine and atorvastatin, in the packs community pharmacies dispense.
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Antibiotics and anti-infectives
Amoxicillin, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin, and injectable antibiotics for hospitals.
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Stomach and allergy
Omeprazole, pantoprazole, cetirizine and montelukast, for prescription and pharmacy sale.
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Hospital and tender supplies
IV fluids, injectable antibiotics, anaesthetics and analgesics in hospital packs for tenders.
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Food supplements
Vitamins, minerals, omega-3, probiotics and protein products for brands selling supplements.
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Traditional herbal products
Herbal tablets, capsules and powders for the traditional herbal route or for sale as supplements.
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Cosmetics
Creams, washes, soaps and shampoos with INCI ingredient lists and the data your responsible person needs.
MHRA registration, step by step
A medicine cannot be sold in the UK until it has been authorised. This is the usual route for a generic medicine made outside Europe, and the page explains it step by step.
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01
A local company applies
The authorisation is held by a company established in the UK, usually the importer or distributor, acting as the marketing authorisation holder. It applies to the MHRA.
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02
The manufacturer authorises it
The manufacturer gives the applicant a letter of authorisation that names the product and the company, which we provide.
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03
The dossier goes in
The applicant submits the CTD dossier with stability data at Zone II conditions, bioequivalence data where required, the GMP certificate and the product information, in the format the route requires. We prepare the manufacturer's documents.
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04
MHRA reviews it
The MHRA assesses the dossier and may ask questions, which we answer with you. Where a medicine is already authorised by a recognised regulator, the MHRA's international recognition procedure can shorten the route.
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05
GMP and batch release
The authority relies on the manufacturer's GMP certificate or inspects the site, and a Qualified Person at the importing site in Europe tests and certifies each batch before it goes on sale.
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06
Registration and renewal
On approval the MHRA issues an authorisation with a number, which goes on every pack. The product is then listed for dispensing and the authorisation is maintained as the rules require.
Registration takes from several months to more than a year, and MHRA updates its requirements from time to time, so check the current guidelines with MHRA or your regulatory agent. Many importers register a few products first and add more as orders grow.
Who does what when you import into the UK
A clear split of the paperwork, so nothing falls between the importer and the manufacturer.
Your company handles
- The MHRA application, as the marketing authorisation holder
- The wholesale dealer's licence and the importation authorisation your business needs
- Bioequivalence studies for generics, where the route requires them
- The UK Qualified Person who certifies each batch
- Listing, pricing and NHS framework applications
Progene Pharma handles
- The CTD dossier, stability data and bioequivalence data where required
- The EU GMP certificate and the manufacturing details
- The information the Qualified Person needs to certify each batch
- A Certificate of Analysis for every batch
- Labels and leaflets in the product information template, ready for your authorisation number
- Answers to MHRA's questions during assessment
Made for British conditions
Heat, humidity, long journeys and several languages: what a medicine needs to stay good from the port to the patient.
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English labels and leaflets
Cartons and patient leaflets in English, following the MHRA product information requirements, with the authorisation number, batch number and expiry date, and an approved proof before printing.
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Stability for Europe
Stability studies at 25 °C and 60% relative humidity (Zone II), the condition the MHRA asks for, so the shelf life on the pack is valid.
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Safety features
Braille on the carton and the safety features UK prescription medicines carry, which differ from the EU's after Brexit.
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Packs for every channel
Pharmacy packs, hospital packs and tender packs in the quantities pharmacies and NHS buyers use.
Shipping to the UK
Orders leave from Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai by sea, or by air when they are urgent, with the documents your clearing agent needs.
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Felixstowe
The UK's busiest container port, with road and rail freight across the country
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Southampton and London Gateway
The south-coast and Thames ports
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London
By air to Heathrow for urgent orders and samples
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Terms and documents
FOB, CFR or CIF, with invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and COA, and the import documents and customs declaration from your side
Where British distributors sell
The same registered product moves through several channels, and each needs its own pack.
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Community pharmacies and wholesalers
Pharmacies buy from wholesalers, which stock the registered packs.
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NHS hospitals
Hospitals buy through NHS purchasing frameworks and tenders, and ask for the full document set.
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Pharmacy chains and buying groups
Chains and buying groups negotiate prices with manufacturers.
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Parallel importers
Some importers buy registered packs for resale and need consistent labelling.
Questions about supplying the UK
Something else? Email [email protected].
Do you export medicines to the UK?
Yes. Progene Pharma manufactures generic medicines in an EU-GMP and WHO-GMP certified facility and supplies them to marketing authorisation holders, importers, wholesalers and tender suppliers in the UK.
Can you help us obtain an authorisation from MHRA?
Yes. Progene Pharma prepares the manufacturing and quality documents an application needs: the CTD dossier, stability data, the GMP certificate and the manufacturing details. Your British company files the application, and we answer MHRA's questions with you.
Do I need a local company to hold the authorisation?
Yes. The authorisation is held by a company established in the UK, usually the importer or distributor. Check the current requirements with the MHRA.
Is an EU authorisation valid in the UK?
No. Since Brexit the UK has run its own system, so a medicine needs a UK authorisation. Documents prepared for an EU dossier can often be reused, and the MHRA also offers a route that relies on approval by a recognised regulator. We prepare the documents to fit both. Check the current requirements with the MHRA.
Which documents does MHRA ask for?
The usual set is the CTD dossier, stability data at European conditions, the manufacturer's GMP certificate and manufacturing details, bioequivalence data for most generics, the active substance master file details and product information. MHRA updates its requirements from time to time, so confirm the current list with MHRA or your regulatory consultant. We tell you what we can provide with your quotation.
Who certifies each batch in the UK?
A Qualified Person at a UK site with the right importation authorisation tests and certifies each batch before it goes on sale. Your importer normally holds that authorisation, and we supply the batch documents the Qualified Person needs.
What is the UK drug tariff?
It is the published list of what the NHS reimburses pharmacies for dispensing generics. It keeps generic prices competitive, so a manufacturer needs a dependable supply chain and a competitive price.
Does Northern Ireland follow different rules?
Northern Ireland follows some EU rules for medicines under the post-Brexit arrangements, so supply there can need extra steps. Tell us where you plan to sell and we will confirm what we can provide.
What must the packs carry for the UK?
English text following the MHRA product information requirements, the authorisation number, batch number, expiry date, storage conditions, Braille on the carton and the safety features UK prescription medicines carry. We prepare the artwork to match your authorisation and you approve a proof before printing.
Are your medicines tested for European conditions?
Yes. Progene Pharma tests products at 25 °C and 60% relative humidity (climate Zone II), the condition European authorities ask for, and packs them in moisture-resistant blisters or bottles, so the shelf life on the pack is valid.
Can you supply tenders in the UK?
Yes. Progene Pharma supplies tender packs and the product documents tenders usually ask for. Tell us the tender requirements and we will confirm what we can provide.
How are orders shipped to the UK?
Progene Pharma ships by sea from Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai to Felixstowe, Southampton or London Gateway, or by air to London for urgent orders, on FOB, CFR or CIF terms. We confirm the schedule with your quotation.
What is the minimum order quantity?
It depends on the product, the dosage form and the packaging. We work with large importers and tender suppliers as well as smaller distributors, and confirm the minimum quantity with your quotation.
Related pages
Request a quote
Send us your product requirements and target country. Our team will reply with a quotation and next steps.
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +91 22 49793146
- +91 90829 70494