Merck Eyes Brexit Contingency Planning; 93 Million DNA User Account Credentials In The Wild...

There has been some chatter in the press about Merck, in spots around the EU, needing to reconfigure some supply lines, and have customers temporarily stock additional inventory, should its life-saving cargo be delayed for additional border crossing documentation, once Britain completes its exit from the EU free trade zone. [Last year's Brexit backgrounder, may be found here. It links to the year prior as well.]

I don't expect it to amount to much, but I note it -- primarily to keep a complete record. Here's a bit, from a typical story:

. . . .Merck’s contingency plans, outlined in a May report, include factoring in as much as two extra days of travel on routes between U.K. and EU destinations to allow for delays caused by document checks, according to the person familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. Merck, based in Kenilworth, New Jersey, is also looking at adding about 30 employees at its Haarlem, Netherlands, facility to cope with regulatory demands, according to the person. . . .

Merck has estimated that some $75 million will be the tab, in added expense, to meet the Brexit shipping/documentary requirements. A pittance to Mother Merck, candidly. And my Dutch friends may see some additional jobs, as a result. Smile.

Separately, it seems a competitor to 23andMe had to confess this week that as many as 92 million account credentials were found in the wild -- that's troubling, but not the same as the sequencing results being made public directly, to be sure. Do diligently guard your genome, folks -- use the robustly-protected 23andMe platform -- if you use anything at all. Onward, on a glorious June morning!

नमस्ते