Please see the latest Business Readiness updates below.
CONTENTS
SME Toolkit: Trading with the EU and Northern Ireland
A new summary of actions SMEs may need to take to trade with the EU is now available.
The document provides an overview of actions to take, outlines support, helplines and resources that may be useful for SMEs, and signposts more detailed guidance on Government websites.
To view the toolkit, click here
Moving Goods
NEW: Moving goods to Ireland: Irish Customs have introduced some additional functionality for those using the Pre-Boarding Notifications service - providing text and email updates for channel routings for loads. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: List of customs agents and fast parcel operators: The list of agents and operators who can help submit customs declarations, has been updated. For more information, click here.
Northern Ireland
NEW: Movement Assistance Scheme (MAS) expanded to support organic produce: Traders moving organic products to Northern Ireland are now eligible for support following the expansion of a scheme designed to ease the flow of agri-food goods from Great Britain. For more information about this announcement click here, and for more information on the new scheme, click here.
UPDATED: Applying for authorisation for the UK Trader Scheme if you bring goods into Northern Ireland: Guidance on applying for authorisation for the UK Trader Scheme has been updated to include new information about authorisation requirements. For more information, click here. If you do not have experience in customs or would like to find out more information, you can register with the Trader Support Service to support you with this process.
UPDATED: Declaring goods you bring into Northern Ireland not ‘at risk’ of moving to the EU: Guidance has been updated with information about making a declaration based on expected outcomes. Further information about rules of origin requirements and preferential rates when bringing goods into Northern Ireland has also been added. For more information, click here.
Business Information
UPDATED: Value Added Tax EU Exit Transitional Provisions: Guidance on the VAT treatment of transactions, or movement of goods which span the end of the transition period, has been updated at Section 6: Financial services, and includes a link to the new detailed guidance on transitional guidance for VAT specified supplies. For more information, click here.
Trade
UPDATED: UK trade agreements with non-EU countries: The list of trade agreements has been updated to reflect the signing and entry into effect of the Ghana-UK EPA. For more information, click here.
Video content to keep your business moving: short on-demand videos covering the new rules on exports, imports, tariffs, data and hiring are available to view here.
Life Sciences UPDATED: Guidance for retailers supplying medical devices to Northern Ireland: A new section on customs requirements has been added to the guidance on how the supply of medical devices from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, works. For more information, click here.
Food & Drink
UPDATED: Exporting or moving high risk food and feed of non-animal origin to the EU or Northern Ireland: Guidance has been updated with information about authorised traders moving food from GB to NI. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: Importing or moving fish to the UK: Guidance on how to import or move fish for human consumption to the UK, has been updated with guidance on eels. For more information, click here.
Fishing
NEW: New immigration rules for fishing industry: New immigration rules have been announced to make it easier to recruit skilled deckhands from abroad. Deckhands on large fishing vessels, with three or more years of experience using their skills, will be included in the list of occupations eligible for Skilled Worker visas. For more information and to view the announcement, click here.
Calling all small businesses based in the North of England
Are you interested in practical solutions to help achieve your low-carbon goals?
Join our virtual event, focused on the North of England on Friday 19 March
Limited places available, register here https://event.bablglobal.com/beis-business-journey-to-net-zero-north/home
Cyber Aware Campaign: The National Cyber Security Centre have launched a self-assessment tool to help sole traders and micro businesses check how safe they are from cyber threats, and to give advice on areas of improvement. To use the toolkit and for more information visit CyberAware.gov.uk.
There are new rules for businesses doing business with the EU from 1 January, and you need to take action now. To help you, a helpline has been set up. For English businesses, the Business Support Helpline can help you identify the actions you need to take. Similar helplines are available for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
For more information for:
businesses in England, call 0800 998 1098
businesses in Scotland, call 0300 303 0660
businesses in Wales, call 0300 060 3000
businesses in Northern Ireland, call 0800 181 4422.
For more information, including opening hours, click here.
