Business Readiness Bulletin – The UK transition

Please see the most recent Brexit bulletin below.

The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year. Take action now to get ready for new rules from January 2021. This bulletin is issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provides the latest information for businesses.

CONTENTS

• Urgent message from the Business Secretary. Time is running out – it’s time to take action now
• Border Operating Model and Trade
• UK Transition: Stakeholder toolkit for business communications
• New and Updated Guidance
• Transition webinars

Urgent message from the Business Secretary. Time is running out – it’s time to take action now
Last week I wrote urging businesses to act now to prepare for our new relationship with the EU. I want to thank the thousands of businesses which took action. However, we know that many are not yet ready for the new rules which start on 1 January and I again request them to act.

In just 71 days there will be guaranteed changes to doing business and there are many actions you can take now to prepare. Find out what you need to do by visiting gov.uk/transition and using the checker tool.

Regardless of whether we reach a trade agreement with the EU, from 1 January there will definitely be changes to:

• the way businesses import and export goods
• the process for hiring people from the EU
• the way businesses provide services in EU markets

This week the government is launching a major public information campaign to help firms prepare and keep business moving. It has one simple message: Time is running out, so you need to act now.

Support is available, including sector-specific webinars to walk you through the changes. If you missed our webinars for the Services and Investment, Retail, Automotive, Materials and Metals, Electronics Machinery and Consumer Goods sectors, they are available to watch on demand now.

As Business Secretary I encourage you to:

1. Check what actions you need to take by visiting uk/transition.
2. Sign up for updates.
3. Attend government webinars for additional support, sign up here.

Unless you take action, there is a risk your business operations will be interrupted. You should also check with your suppliers and customers that they are taking action.

I know these are challenging times, but the transition period is ending on 1 January and there will be no extension. It is vital your business prepares for our new relationship with the EU, outside of the single market and customs union. The Government will be there to support and help you to take advantage of the many new opportunities that being an independent trading nation will bring.

Yours sincerely,

Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Border Operating Model and Trade
The updated Border Operating Model provides further detail on how the GB-EU border will work and the actions that traders, hauliers and passengers need to take. These steps will be needed regardless of whether we reach a trade agreement with the EU. The updated GB-EU Border Operating Model:

• Maps out the intended locations of inland border infrastructure. The sites will provide the necessary additional capacity to carry out checks on freight.
• Announces that passports will be required for entry into the UK from October 2021 as the Government phases out the use of EU, EEA and Swiss national identity cards as a valid travel document for entry to the UK.
• Confirms that a Kent Access Permit will be mandatory for HGVs using the short strait channel crossings in Kent. The easy-to-use ‘Check an HGV’ service will allow hauliers to check if they have the correct customs documentation and obtain a Kent Access Permit. A preview demo of the Check and HGV service is available now.

Government launches plans to keep trade flowing after 1 January 2021: The government has announced a series of measures to help keep trade flowing by minimising the risk of disruption at the end of the transition period.

Exporters: sign up for the EU dual-use OGEL: Check now whether your business will need to register for the Open General Export Licence (OGEL), for export of dual-use items to EU member states from 1 January 2021. A full listing of sectors covered, and how to register for the licence with the Export Control Joint Unit is contained in this Notice to Exporters.

HMRC has written to VAT-registered businesses highlighting actions they need to take to prepare for new processes for moving goods between Great Britain and the EU from 1 January 2021.

UK Transition: Stakeholder toolkit for business communications
We need your help reaching businesses across the UK, encouraging them to take relevant actions before new rules come into force in January 2021. A new stakeholder toolkit of key messages and downloadable assets is now available for use across your social channels, newsletters, blogs and websites to help encourage businesses to you work with to take action. Find the toolkit here.

New and Updated Guidance
People

• Employing EU citizens in the UK: Further information for employers on employing EU, EEA and Swiss citizens in the UK, covering right to work checks, the EU Settlement Scheme and the UK’s new immigration system can be found here.
• Guidance for providers of further education and apprenticeships: Information to help further education and training providers and employers of apprentices prepare for the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.

Digital and Data

• Using your mobile in EU and EEA countries after the UK leaves the EU: New guidance has been published.
• Making phone calls and sending texts to EU and EEA countries after the UK leaves the EU: New guidance has been published.
• The eCommerce Directive after the transition period: At the end of the transition period, the eCommerce Directive will no longer apply to the UK. You should begin to prepare for these changes now. Find out more here.
• Using personal data in your business or other organisation after the transition period: What action you need to take regarding data protection and data flows with the EU/EEA after the end of the transition period.
• .eu domain names - what you need to do before the end of the transition period: Find out what you need to do before the end of the transition period if you hold a .eu domain.
• NIS Regulations - what UK digital service providers operating in the EU should do from 1 January 2021: What you must do to comply with the regulations covering the security of network and information systems.
• NIS Regulations - what non-UK digital service providers operating in the UK should do from 1 January 2021: What organisations based outside of the UK offering services in the UK must do to comply with the regulations covering the security of network and information systems.
• Broadcasting and video on-demand from 1 January 2021: How the rules for broadcasters and providers of video on-demand services will change after the transition period.

Food and drink

• Prepare your food and drink business for 1 January 2021: The way you access existing favourable arrangements with non-EU countries may change. Guidance has been issued on changes to trading with non-EU countries that have a free trade agreement with the EU.  The UK will implement a temporary tariff regime for up to 12 months.  Under the temporary tariff regime, the majority of UK imports would be tariff-free, but in certain sectors, such as agriculture, tariffs would be maintained. Check the temporary rates of customs duty on imports from 1 January 2021. Find out what you need to do to prepare your food and drink business for 1 January 2021.
• Importing and exporting wine from 1 January 2021: There will be a 9-month transition period to a new system for importing wine from a non-EU (third) country. To find out more see Rules for wine importers, exporters, producers, retailers and distributors from 1 January 2021.
• Protecting food and drink names from 1 January 2021: Geographical Indication (GI) schemes protect the geographical names of food, drink and agricultural products.  The UK will set up its own GI schemes which will fulfil its World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations. Find out more here.
• Export composite food products to the EU from 1 January 2021: What counts as a composite food product, and the rules you’ll need to follow to export these products from 1 January 2021.

Chemicals

• Trading in drug precursors from 1 January 2021: How trading in drug precursor chemicals will be affected from 2021.How to comply with pesticide regulations from 1 January 2021: Guidance on making sure you meet regulations when using, producing or placing pesticides on the market after 1 January 2021 has been published.

Intrastat declarations for exports: Information for traders on importing and exporting goods between Great Britain and the EU after 1 January 2021 has been updated to remove references to Intrastat declarations for exports. You do not have to submit Intrastat declarations for goods exported from Great Britain to the EU.

Export or move live animals and animal products to the EU from 1 January 2021: Guidance has been updated to reflect changes to the export process for live animals, products of animal origin and animal by-products from 1 January 2021.

Importing animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin from 1 January 2021: You must get pre-authorisation from Defra for high-risk ABPs before any imports take place. More here.

List of customs agents and fast parcel operators: It can be complicated to submit import and export customs declarations, so businesses may want to use a company which specialises in this area. HMRC has updated its list of customs agents and fast parcel operators who can help submit customs declarations.

Transition webinars

NEW: Chemicals businesses, 11am Monday 2 November and then on demand. Register here.

NEW: Changes to Intellectual Property, 2pm Wednesday 28 October and then on demand. Register here.

Find out more and register for all transition webinars here.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy