Please see the latest Business Readiness updates below.
CONTENTS
Rules of Origin for trading with the EU: A short explainer for SMEs
What are Rules of Origin?
Rules of Origin determine the economic nationality of a good under a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Businesses need to know about them because the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) means they can trade with the EU without paying tariffs – but only if their product meets the relevant Rules of Origin.
How do Rules of Origin impact my business?
To export tariff-free into the EU, traders must check their goods meet the Rules of Origin requirements set out in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and have the right documentation. If your goods do not meet the Rules of Origin, they may face a tariff upon export to the EU.
What action do I need to take?
Watch the new on on demand video which summarise Rules of Origin processes for businesses.
Then, if you are a UK exporter and your EU importer wants to claim zero tariffs on your goods, there are 3 key steps to work out whether your goods comply with rules of origin:
1. Classify your good – every good has a commodity code and a list is available on gov.uk
2. Understand whether your good meets the applicable rule of origin from the TCA (Chapter 2 as well as Annexes ORIG-1 to ORIG-4 will be most useful). You can also use the export checker tool to find out what rule of origin applies to your exports.
3. Understand how to demonstrate origin to the customs authorities.
For help in working out whether your goods comply and how to demonstrate this to customs authorities, read the Rules of Origin Guidance on trading with the EU.
You may choose to use a customs agent to help you with Rules of Origin and there is guidance available here on how to find one.
To view the full short explainer document, click here.
Trade
UPDATED: UK trade agreements with non-EU countries: The list of trade agreements the UK has concluded that are in effect, and the progress of our discussion with other countries, has been updated. The list now shows Albania as ‘signed but not in effect’, and updates to the St. Kitts and Nevis entry, as they have now ratified the CARIFORUM agreement. For more information, click here.
Moving goods
NEW: Update on Inland Border Facilities (IBF) guidance: Following feedback from industry, HMRC have thoroughly reviewed all guidance pages related to Inland Border Facilities, including: making it clear what documentation is required at sites; which sites are available across the country; as well as encouragement to utilise alternative sites to Waterbrook. In addition, HMRC have included information on site specific guidance on the functions available at each site. Further information can be found here.
NEW: New restrictions on food and drink that you can take in your personal baggage into the EU: Drivers travelling to the EU should be aware of additional restrictions to personal imports. If you are carrying prohibited items in your luggage, vehicle or person, you need to use, consume, or dispose of them at or before the border. More information can be found here.
UPDATED: Value Added Tax EU Exit Transitional Provisions: Guidance about the VAT treatment of transactions of movements of goods, which span the end of the transition period, has been updated with information about goods in a warehousing regime. 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
UPDATED: Using the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHEIF) for declaring goods into or out of Northern Ireland: Guidance has been updated with information about the use of CHIEF before making declarations. For more information, click here.
Business Support Helplines
NEW: Brexit transition helplines: A list of government helplines organised by theme and key actions for businesses has been published. To view this, click here.
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.
Webinars for businesses that trade with the EU: Click here to view a list of webinars you can sign up to watch live or on demand.
Life Sciences
NEW: Marketing Authorisation Application submission dates for 150-days national and European Commission decision reliance procedures: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will operate a 150-day assessment route for high-quality marketing authorisation applications (MAAs) containing new active substances. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: Exporting active substances manufactured in Great Britain for use in EEA and Northern Ireland: An updated version of the Register of Written Confirmation for UK active substance manufacturers is now available. For more information, click here.
Fish & Fisheries
UPDATED: The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union: Some minor drafting changes have been made to the fisheries section in the summary explainer document to provide more clarity. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: How to export wild caught marine fishery products to the EU from 01 January 2021: The latest edition of the ‘One-stop-shop' guidance is now available. For more information, click here.
