22 January 2021

Thursday, 4 February 2021

Brexit Newsletter

What you need to know...

Dear BPF Member,

This is the latest installment of a Brexit-focused newsletter to ensure members are up to date on all the latest developments relevant to our industry.

If you would like to unsubscribe at any point please let us know here.

Reminder: Post Brexit Q&A Webinar Taking Place Today

From 12.00-12.45 today Ryan Diggory, Senior Policy Advisor-International Trade Infrastructure and Materials, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will be running another of his well received Q&A sessions on all issues Post-Brexit.

Questions can be submitted beforehand here.

Last weeks webinar can be ‘watched again’ here and following last weeks webinar Ryan answered several in writing which can be found here.

Act Now to Keep Your Business Moving in 2021, Business Minister Urges

Business Minister Paul Scully is urging businesses who have not yet taken steps to prepare for the UK’s new start to act now and has set out 6 key actions businesses must take to ensure they are prepared for 2021.

Government Launches On-Demand Video Series

The Government has launched a series of on demand videos on 18 subjects - including importing and exporting, trade tariffs, Rules of Origin and Chemical Regulations, to help companies understand the new rules.

Check Which Tariffs Apply to Imports into the UK

Use the tariff look-up tool to find the tariff information you need, including commodity codes, duty and VAT rates. Companies may first want to consult the HMRC advice on classifying plastics for customs.

If there is still ambiguity (which we are hearing is the case for a number of members), companies can ask HMRC for more help: You can use HMRC’s Tariff Classification Service to get non-legally binding classification advice. HMRC will respond to your email within 5 working days. Use this method for a quick and informal decision. You can apply for a Binding Tariff Information decision in Northern Ireland or an Advanced Tariff Ruling in Great Britain. This is a legally binding decision on the commodity code to use for your goods and can take between 30 and 60 days to be processed.

Northern Ireland Market Access for CE-marked Goods

If you are placing manufactured goods on the market in Northern Ireland information on what you need to do to comply with regulations can be found here.

Supplementary Declarations: Guide to Preparation Steps

Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy (NICTA) have produced guidance on preparing supplementary declarations outlining...

• the goods movement information you need to retain

• the new information you also need

• where you can obtain this information.

Find out more

BEIS Letter to Business – Haulier COVID-19 Testing

Parliamentary Under Secretary for State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Paul Scully wrote to businesses on 11 January 2021 regarding coronavirus testing for hauliers before leaving the UK for France. Download the letter here. The Cabinet Office has also urged firms to provide the right documentation to hauliers – many of which have made clear they cannot otherwise take the load.

The eCommerce Directive and the UK

The eCommerce Directive no longer applies to the UK, now that the transition period is over. Rules relating to online activities in European Economic Area (EEA) countries, may newly apply to UK online service providers who operate in the EEA, now that the transition period is over.

Moving goods from GB to Ireland – Pre-Boarding Notification

The government are aware that many businesses may need assistance with completing the Irish Revenue’s Pre Boarding Notifications using their online system. To address this, the Irish Revenue have published written guidance and provided video guidance.

Government Reminds Travellers to Check Health Insurance

The government is advising all travellers to make sure they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or travel insurance with health cover. Travellers may not have access to free emergency medical treatment and could be charged for healthcare if not in possession of an EHIC or GHIC when visiting an EU country, or travel insurance when visiting Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. Travellers can apply for a free GHIC here.

Food and Drink Labelling Changes

DEFRA have published a document with responses to frequently asked questions on Food and drink labelling changes from 1 January 2021. Download the document here

Trade

UPDATED: The UK sanctions list: The list of individuals, entities and ships designated or specified under regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 and why, has been updated, with amendments to some designations.

UPDATED: Trade with Japan from 1 January 2021: Guidance on how you import and export with Japan has been updated, with new information on small consignment and waivers.

UPDATED: UK trade agreements with non-EU countries: An up-to-date list of the UK’s trade agreements with non-EU countries is available here. The latest addition is the full ratification of the UK-Andean agreement with Peru.

UPDATED: Trading with Singapore: Guidance on trading with Singapore, from 1 January 2021, has been updated with the latest business advice

Importing and Exporting

NEW: Trade with the UK tool: This tool provides information for international businesses exporting goods into the UK, covering taxes, tariffs, commodity codes and regulations. It also provides information for goods going into Northern Ireland.

NEW: The Check How to Export Goods tool, provides information for UK exporters about duties, rules of origin and customs procedures for over 160 markets around the world. It also provides detailed information about the UK border.

UPDATED: Reporting EU sales made on or before 31 December 2020 for VAT: Guidance has been updated to refer to EC Sales Lists for sales made on or before 31 December 2020. Businesses have until 21 January 2021 to submit EC Sales Lists made on or before 31 December 2020.

UPDATED: How to import and export goods between Great Britain and the EU: Information for traders has been updated following the end of the Brexit transition period. Updated guidance includes ‘How to import goods into Great Britain from EU countries’ and ‘How to export goods from Great Britain into EU countries’.

UPDATED: List of customs agents and fast parcel operators.

Sector Specific Guidance

UPDATED: Ongoing customs movements and procedures at the end of the transition period: Guidance on, what to do if you had goods in customs procedures at the end of the transition period, has been updated, with information about moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

UPDATED: Get a goods movement reference: Guidance on using this service to get a reference, after registering with the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, has been updated with new information on declaring goods orally or by conduct.

UPDATED: Moving goods through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel using common transit: Guidance on finding alternative offices or destination or departure, when moving goods under Common Transit Convention has been updated, with a changed address for Sevington inland border facility for satellite navigation purposes.

UPDATED: HMRC Community, Common Transit and TIR newsletter: January editions of the newsletter have been issued.

UPDATED: Return your rejected exports from the EU: Guidance on the rules you must follow for returning rejected exports to Great Britain has been updated to include links to post Brexit transition guidance.

NEW: Tell HMRC that you are going to be attending an inland border facility: Use this service, if you are a haulier, freight forwarder or driver, to tell HMRC, in advance, that you are attending an inland border facility.

UPDATED: Moving qualifying goods from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK: Guidance has been updated with information about what to do for goods that started their journey in the EU, and were declared for export in an EU country, leaving Northern Ireland.

UPDATED: Carrying out international road haulage: Guidance has been added in order to help you ‘make sure you’re ready to import and export’.

UPDATED: Moving goods through the Port of Holyhead: Guidance has been updated with information about transporting live animals under an ATA Carnet.

Northern Ireland

UPDATED: Using CHIEF for declaring goods into or out of Northern Ireland: Guidance has been updated with information about when HMRC will tell users they must stop using CHIEF.

Intellectual Property

UPDATED: Intellectual Property after 1 January 2021: Key information for customers and users of IP about how the IP system and the Intellectual Property Office will operate after the end of the transition period has been updated. Guidance on Parallel trade between the UK and the EEA has been updated.

UPDATED: Address for service for intellectual property rights from 1 January 2021: The rules governing address for service for intellectual property rights in the UK have changed. Guidance has been updated with information about bulk change of address service.

Business Information

NEW: Receiving interest, royalties or dividends payments from the EU: Guidance has been issued explaining changes to tax deductions from interest, royalties and dividends, following the end of the Brexit transition period.

NEW: Public-sector procurement: Guidance has been issued with information for public authorities, businesses and other organisations, on public procurement policy.

UPDATED: National Insurance for workers from the UK working in the EEA or Switzerland: Check which country’s social security contributions you must pay if you are a worker from the UK working in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein. Guidance has been updated, with the countries who have agreed to apply the ‘detached worker’ rules.

Data protection and Copyright Law

UPDATED: EU business: data protection and copyright: Guidance on what EU businesses need to do with data protection, intellectual property and copyright in the UK, has been updated with the latest information on transferring personal data to the UK.

Sector Specific Guidance

NEW: Submitting chemicals information to the National Poisons Information Service: Guidance has been issued with information for companies placing hazardous mixtures on the UK market (such as manufacturers, importers, downstream users and distributors), should submit to the National Poisons Information Service.

NEW: ODS (Ozone - Depleting Substances) exports rejected at an EU border control post: Guidance has been issued on what to do if your ozone-depleting substances (ODS) exports, are rejected at an EU border control post (BCP).

NEW: F gas exports rejected at an EU border control post: Guidance has been issued on what to do if your fluorinated gas (F gas) exports, are rejected at an EU border control post (BCP).

Forthcoming Government Webinars

The government has prepared a series of sector-specific webinars for businesses and webinars for businesses that trade with the EU.
The Home Office has created a podcast episode in partnership with Intelligence Squared to help business prepare for the points-based immigration system
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is hosting a series of free podcasts to help businesses that make, use or supply chemicals, understand what actions they need to take to ensure they are prepared for the end of the UK Transition period, when an independent GB chemical regimes will be in place from 1 January 2021
HMRC customs declarations webinars: HMRC have launched multiple editions of this live webinar covering how to complete customs import declarations and explaining how to make import declarations when importing goods between the EU and Great Britain.
HMRC are running webinars throughout January on customs import declarations and webinars on exports and actions businesses need to take now
Department for International Trade webinars: DIT are hosting a series of webinars primarily aimed at businesses which are UK based who import and export goods
The Ministry of Justice have published several on-demand webinars for legal professionals discussing legal changes from 1 January 2021.
HMRC webinars: Get help on UK transition with online webinars from HMRC by registering for webinars on: Importing: staged controls and how to prepare to use them and Exporting: actions you need to take to prepare for 1 January 2021.

Key Helpdesks and Useful Links

Government business support helplines:
- 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.
HMRC Customs & International Trade Helpline is the main route for general customs queries: 0300 322 9434. M-F 08.00-20.00 and Sat 08.00-16.00.

HMRC National Clearance Hub supports border movements. Contact details are: 0300 322 7900.
HMRC Borders support for businesses that have questions around a specific consignment that is already in transit. The email address is [email protected]
UKCA marking - [email protected] or [email protected] - Tel: 0121 345 1201 - Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8.00-18.00
Tariffs – businesses are being directed to this link