UK Transition Changes
Recent updates
- NEW £20million SME Brexit Support Fund offers up to £2,000 to help small businesses adjust to new custom procedures, rules of origin and VAT rules when trading with the EU.
- Movement Assistance Scheme (MAS): get help with moving agrifood goods to Northern Ireland. Free support, including a dedicated helpline, is available for traders and businesses moving animals, plants and associated products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Detail here.
- Check How to Export Goods tool: The Department for International Trade (DIT) has published an online tool for UK exporters. The Check How to Export Goods (CHEG) tool is aimed at UK exporters and pulls together information on the UK border, duties, rules of origin and customs procedures.
- Webinars for EU food and drinks importers: Register for webinars to find out about changes to importing food and drink, including composite food and fishery products from the EU to Great Britain (GB) from 1 April 2021.
Brexit: New rules are here
The UK has left the EU, and the Brexit transition period has ended. There are new rules for businesses doing business with the EU from 1 January, and you need to take action now.
Use the Government’s Brexit Checker to get a personalised list of actions for you here https://www.gov.uk/transition
Book yourself onto an EU Transition clinic:
- For Somerset businesses, book here https://internationaltradematters.com/about/events/eu-transition-clinics-somerset/
- For businesses in Devon, Plymouth or Torbay, register at www.export.org.uk/page/devontradeeu.
General UK Transition Information
We have brought together an extensive pack of UK transition resources for businesses below:
Businesses need to follow these actions to continue importing from EU countries from 1 January 2021.
Guidance on the functions of the CMA under the Withdrawal Agreement in the link here.
Keep your business moving: New video explainers on doing business with Europe
Register now to immediately access the video content. New rules are here – make sure your business is prepared. Register online to see the available videos.
Alphabetical list of video explainers:
Businesses and Trade Agreements (not yet available), Businesses Engaged in Emissions Trading, Businesses Hiring Overseas Staff, Businesses Involved in the Horizon 2020 Funding Service, Businesses Involved with Data, Businesses Operating Online, Businesses Preparing and Auditing Financial Accounts, Businesses who Import and Export, Businesses Providing Services to EU Markets, Businesses Shipping Waste between GB and EU, Businesses Working with Intellectual Property, Chemical Regulations, Moving Goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland, Placing and Selling Goods on the Market, REACH Chemical Regulations, Recognition of Professional Qualifications, Rules of Origin and Trade Tariffs
Alphabetical list of sectors (signposting key videos for their sector)
Aerospace, Automotive, Chemicals, Civil Nuclear, Construction, Consumer Goods, Electronics and Machinery, Energy, Life Sciences, Metals and Other Materials, Retail and Services and Investment
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs webinars
The webinars hosted by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs are now available to watch online. The webinars covered the following topics:
- Exporting Products of Animal Origin (POAO) from Great Britain to the European Union
- Exporting Fish and Fishery Products for Human Consumption from Great Britain to the European Union
- Exporting Live Animals from Great Britain to the European Union
- Exporting Equines from Great Britain to the European Union
- Exporting Composite Goods from Great Britain to the European Union
- Export Health Certificates
To view the above webinars, visit the webpage here
Sector specific webinars
Free webinars to help you check the new rules and understand the actions to take for your sector.
Hosted by Workcast for the Department for UK Transition. Book online here
Cabinet Office videos
Short-form videos about trading with the EU are available online here
Department for International Trade Webinars
The DIT’s Export Academy is open to businesses in the South West.
The Academy will take businesses through the essentials for exporting their goods overseas.
Growth Hub webinars
We have several webinars available on our YouTube here.
The Q&A sheet from our webinar on the 20 November is also available to download: UK Transition Webinar 20 November Q&A
The slides from our webinar on the 11 December are also available to download: UK Transition Webinar 11 December Slides
Webinars for EU-based organisations that trade with the UK
Learn more about UK border requirements from 1 January by watching previously-held webinars:
- Brexit Transition: UK-Spain border requirements // Requisitos fronterizos entre Reino Unido y España
Selected webinars are available online here.
Opportunities
The way that opportunities to supply the UK public sector are advertised is about to change. From 23:00 on 31 December 2020, information on public sector contract opportunities in the UK will be published on the new Find a Tender Service (FTS).
Existing Contracts Finder account holders will be able to use the same login credentials for Find a Tender. You can register now in preparation for its launch on 31 December.
Agreements with the following countries and trading blocs are expected to take effect when existing EU trade agreements no longer apply to the UK, from 1 January 2021.
Importing/Exporting
New to exporting, wishing to enhance your international trade knowledge? If so funding is now open to all businesses wishing to develop knowledge of international trade and customs declarations. You can apply for the training grants for the courses by registering via the gov.uk website Click here
Your local chamber of commerce can also assist, please see below:
Devon and Plymouth Chamber or email international-trade@devonchamber.co.uk
Somerset Chamber or email export@somerset-chamber.co.uk
Prepare to import goods from the EU to Great Britain from 1 January 2021
The process for importing goods from the EU has changed. Businesses in Great Britain need to complete the following actions (click here) to continue importing from EU countries.
Customs
Check the terms of your existing contracts with your customers and suppliers and plan how your business will deal with customs declarations, if necessary appoint a customs broker/intermediary to make customs declarations on your behalf for a list of customs agents and fast parcel operators click here you will also need to check if customs guarantees and simplified procedures will be helpful for your business and complete the application processes.
For more details on the exporting lifecycle please go to our step by step exporting toolkit here. You will also need to identify the staff that can be trained on customs and apply for HMRC grant funding.
Trader Support Service (TSS)
The Trader Support Service is live. Register now if you are a business who moves goods into Northern Ireland. The TSS will help you prepare for new processes from 1 January 2021, free of charge. Register here
For an extensive breakdown of the transport and travel guidelines for after the 1 January 2021, read the information online.
If you’re a haulier and move goods through a port in the UK that uses the Goods Vehicle Movement Service you’ll need to register for the service to get your goods through customs
From 1 January 2021, there will be changes to how you import and declare excise goods (alcohol, tobacco and certain oils). More information is available online here.
Please ensure your wooden packaging complies with the importing/exporting regulations as stated online here.
The Better Business for All (BBfA) Export Toolkit provides guidance on exporting animals and animal products to the EU – UK Transition Export Animals Guide
Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) is the domestic system for the import of live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin into Great Britain. Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) guide
Immigration and Employment
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen resident in the UK at 31 December 2020, you and your family members need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK beyond 30 June 2021. Please click here for more information.
For local help with EU Settlement Scheme:
Diversity Voice offers information and practical help to individuals and employers.
This toolkit will equip you with the right materials and information to support EU citizens to apply to stay in the UK. Please click here for more information.
Locations where you can go to get your biometric ID document scanned if you do not have an Android device with near field communication (NFC). Details are online.
The UK is introducing a points-based immigration system from 2021 please click here for more details.
Find out what EU citizens need to do if they are working in the UK from 1 January 2021. EU business: working in the UK for more details.
Food production and fisheries
Download a copy of our UK Transition Farming Policy guide here. The guide outlines new and existing farming policies for England.
What you need to do as a fisheries business from 1 January 2021, information now available online.
More details on exporting of fish to the EU are available online.
How to prove your fish has been caught legally for imports and exports of fish, information is now available online.
MMO short guide on changes, information is now available online.
How to export wild caught marine fishery products to the EU from 01 January 2021. Details are available online.
How importers and exporters of live fish, molluscs and crustaceans for farming, ornamental, or any other purpose except direct human consumption, should prepare for changes from 1 January 2021.
Importing and exporting live fish and shellfish from 1 January 2021
The Better Business for All (BBfA) Food Labelling guide gives food producers an insight into the important changes that surround food labelling – UK Transition Food Labelling Guide
How manufacturers and importers of fertilisers should prepare for changes from 1 January 2021. Manufacturing and marketing fertilisers from 1 January 2021
- Hops and hops products marketing standards from 1 January 2021
- Beef and veal marketing standards from 1 January 2021
- Hatching eggs and chicks marketing standards from 1 January 2021
- Egg marketing standards from 1 January 2021
- Poultry meat marketing standards from 1 January 2021
- Fresh fruit and vegetable marketing standards from 1 January 2021
The NFU has produced a series of webinars to provide insights for traders of plants/plant products between GB and the EU/NI. Watch online here
Northern Ireland
Tell HMRC if you sell goods in Northern Ireland or move goods between Northern Ireland and the EU from 1 January 2021. Guidance is available online here.
If you move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland the Trader Support Service will guide you through any changes due to the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Free support, including a dedicated helpline, is available for traders and businesses moving animals, plants and associated products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. MAS also means that traders will not need to pay health certification costs, which will be met by the UK Government.Detail here.
Legal, Data and Regulatory
You will need an EU EORI number if your business will be making customs declarations or getting a customs decision in the EU. Get this from the customs authority in the EU country where you submit your first declaration or request your first decision.it only take ten minutes if you have:
- VAT number and effective date of registration – these are on your VAT registration certificate
- National Insurance number – if you’re an individual or a sole trader
- Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) – find your UTR if you do not know it
- Business start date and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code – these are in the Companies House register
- Government Gateway user ID and password
To find the latest tariff schedule please click here
HMRC have issued a letter to VAT registered businesses regarding trade with the EU from 1 January 2021. Read it here
The Better Business for All (BBfA) UKCA mark guide provides guidelines on using the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark – UK Transition UKCA Labelling Guide
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. Please click here for guidance.
The Better Business for All (BBfA) Food Labelling guide gives food producers an insight into the important changes that surround food labelling – UK Transition Food Labelling Guide
To find our what action you need to take regarding data protection and data flows with the EU/EEA after the end of the transition period please click here.
For more information on these changes, please click here.
The rules governing address for service for intellectual property rights in the UK are changing.
Guidance for businesses and organisations holding EU trade marks at the end of the transition period is available online.
On 1 January 2021 there will be changes to UK intellectual property law to ensure the smooth departure from EU IP systems.
Get in touch
Contact the Growth Hub team to find out about support available locally.
03456 047 047
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