The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which evaluates and supervises medicines for both human and animal use, will relocate to Amsterdam from London, after the UK leaves the European Union.

Based in Canary Wharf since 1995, the EMA, which employs 900 staff, helps national authorities authorise the sale of drugs across the EU’s single market of some 500 million people.

Dawn Howard, NOAH’s chief executive, said: “We congratulate Amsterdam on its successful bid to host the EMA. Now the agency’s destination is known, we need to ensure continuity of availability of animal medicines during the move, and into the future.”

“NOAH has welcomed the UK’s stated commitment to continuing a close working relationship with the EU in relation to the EMA. We believe it is vital that both UK and EU cooperate on animal medicines safety, regulation and supply – this is urgent.”

Ms Howard added: “Animal medicines are equally subject to the stringent regulatory controls of their human counterparts, based on EU legislation, using the EMA.

“We must ensure our pets and farm animals have continued access to the best veterinary medicines to protect their health and welfare. Animals need medicines for the high standards of animal health essential for public health and food safety: the UK veterinary medicines sector is also essential for the wellbeing of the pets sharing 12 million UK households, as well as nearly 10,000 assistance animals and 1500 working dogs.”