The link to the Government’s Covid-19 Winter Plan can be found here further to the PM’s announcement.
Please see below the latest Readiness bulletin.
UK- Canada trade
Existing UK trade agreements with non-EU countries: Updated today to reflect the agreement in principle of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.
Customs
List of customs agents and fast parcel operators: The list of customs agents and the list of fast parcel operators have been updated today.
Trademarks and IP
Address for service for intellectual property rights from 1 January 2021. First published today: the rules governing address for service for intellectual property rights in the UK are changing.
EU trade mark protection and comparable UK trade marks from 1 January 2021: Significant changes to the content regarding ‘Conversion’ and new text at the end of ‘Registering a pending EUTM application as a UK trade mark’ added today.
Haulage
ECMT international road haulage permits: The application period for ECMT permits has ended. On Saturday, a section was updated to reflect what happens next if you applied.
CONTENT
Transition Period: Business Secretary writes to businesses sectors
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, has written to specific business sectors. The letters provide tailored advice about key actions that businesses must take after the Transition period ends on 31 December 2020, which is 39 days away.
View the sector-specific letters for:
New Guidance
VAT and overseas goods sold to customers from online market places: Separate Guidance has issued outlining how online market places and those who sell directly to customers in Great Britain from 1 January 2021 will deal with VAT on goods from overseas goods.
Product Safety
Guidance for businesses regarding the end of the EU Transition Period: The Office for Product Safety and Standards has published guidance to help businesses comply with regulations as the Transition Period ends. Separate, complementary guidance will be published for businesses trading in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The list of published guidance documents can be viewed here.
UK Product safety and metrology from 1 January 2021: Guidance has been published for businesses on specific product safety and metrology regulations. Click here to access the guidance. Specific guidance for placing goods on the market in Great Britain can be accessed here. Guidance for placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland can be accessed here.
Food and Drink
Digital guide covering the key actions food and drink businesses may need to take: A new digital guide has been issued that covers the key actions food and drink businesses may need to take after the end of the Transition Period. For more information, click here.
Nutrition legislation from 1 January 2021: Guidance has been published for businesses regarding practical changes that will be made to nutrition legislation in the UK from 1 January 2021. These changes include nutrition-related labelling, composition and standards. For more information, click here.
Amendments to Food information rules and wine: The Food and Drink (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 have been published, making minor amendments to retained EU legislation on food information rules and wine. For more information, click here.
Importing and Exporting
Guidance for Hauliers and Commercial Drivers: The Haulier Handbook has been published as a one-stop-shop for key information on how to prepare vehicles and the goods they carry to continue to travel smoothy across the border and help minimise disruption. To access, click here.
Information on Licence Security from 1 January 2021: Information has been published on import and export licence security from 1 January 2021. Licence security will need to be provided in pounds sterling. The notice tells you how license security will need to be provided from 1 January 2021. Click here for more information.
Protection of trading interests (retained blocking regulation) from 1 January 2021: Guidance has been issued that sets out how protection of trading interests (also known as the retained blocking regulation) will work in the UK from 1 January 2021. The Protection of Trading Interests Legislation protects UK persons trading with countries affected by the extraterritorial application of certain laws (currently US Sanctions against Iran and Cuba). For more information, click here.
Importing horses and ponies from 1 January 2021: Guidance for the importing of horses and other equines, including ponies and donkeys from January 2021, has been published. To access the guidance, click here.
EU Transition - Trader and Industry Forum: To support businesses and industry to get ready for the end of the transition period, the EU Transition Trader and Industry Forum has been launched. This is designed so that you can ask questions about preparations you need to make now for the new rules to EU trade which will apply from 1 January 2021. To access this, click here.
Updated Guidance
Trader Support Service: Over 7,000 traders have already signed up to the Trader Support Service which will support traders moving goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol from 1 January 2021. For more information on this story and the service, click here.
Intellectual Property after 1 January 2021: Guidance about Intellectual Property from 1 January 2021 has been updated to reflect changes to UK Address for Service. From 1 January 2021, subject to legislative implementation, only a UK address for service will be accepted for new applications and requests to start contentious proceedings before the IPO. For more information, click here.
Help and support if your business trades with the EU: The support page for trading with the EU from 1 January 2021 has been updated to include links to the EU Transition Trader and Industry Online Forum. For more information, click here.
ECMT international road haulage permits: The deadline to apply for ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport) permits for 2021 has now closed. Guidance has been updated to reflect what happens next if you applied for a permit. To view this, click here.
Exporting wild caught marine fishery products to the EU from 1 January 2021: The ‘One Stop Shop’ guidance for fishing and seafood businesses has been updated to reflect the latest information. To see the full guidance, click here.
Government contacts to help medical supply businesses from 1 January 2021: In order to ensure the flow of medical supplies into the UK after 31 December 2020, the government has issued a list of contacts that businesses can use to keep medical products flowing into the UK from 1 January 2021. To view this information, click here.
Transition Webinars and Podcasts
Webinars
With just 39 days to go until the end of the transition period, you can keep up to date by attending one of our live webinars to help prepare your business. You can also access sector-specific webinars about how to prepare your business here.
Visit the GOV.UK transition webinar page to find out more and register - here.
Podcast: Business and the Future of Immigration in 2021
The Home Office has created a podcast episode in partnership with Intelligence Squared to help you prepare for the points-based immigration system.
Listen now to Business and the Future of Immigration in 2021. Also availab
