Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 9 October 2020
OLS Introduction The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is a joint unit between the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This bulletin aims to keep the life sciences sector up to date on the latest guidance as we approach the end of the Transition Period and during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, providing you with information from Government to help your members and networks prepare. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please email Sonia.Davies@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk
News REMINDER – The NHS COVID-19 app launched on September 24th, providing instant access to local area alert levels, venue check-ins using the official QR codes, booking tests and contact tracing. The app will alert you instantly if it detects that you have come into contact with someone for longer than 15 minutes who has tested positive for Coronavirus. The app has been designed with user privacy in mind, so it tracks the virus, not people and uses the latest in data security technology to protect privacy. The NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app is free and is the official contact tracing app for England and Wales, where it is bilingual. Download it now from the iTunes app store or Google Play, where it already has approval ratings of 4.5 and 4.1 respectively. NEW – A new Global Travel Taskforce to support the travel industry and the safe recovery of international travel has been launched. The taskforce will consider further how government can support the sector to meet these challenges posed by COVID-19 to international travel. Work will begin with industry on how to safely reduce self-isolation period with testing. The taskforce will also consider a wide range of other measures to support the travel sector including developing a global framework to make travelling easier.
Transition Guidance NEW – Letters have been sent to VAT-registered businesses in Northern Ireland to explain changes to the way goods will move between Great Britain and Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland Protocol comes into force on 1 January 2021. They explain what businesses need to do to prepare, including registering for the Trader Support Service, a free service available to businesses of all sizes. NEW – £200 million Port Infrastructure Fund opens for bids. The fund is targeted at those ports that have the space to build new border infrastructure on their current sites so that they are ready to handle new customs requirements under the new Border Operating Model. The funding can be used for a range of vital port infrastructure. The deadline for applications is midday on 30 October. Where infrastructure is not best situated at ports, the government has allocated an additional £270 million to build inland customs facilities. Find out more here. NEW – Training fund for vets aims to boost the certification capacity for exports to the EU at the end of the transition period. NEW – The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is consulting on its draft guidance on its functions after the end of the Transition Period. This consultation can be found here and closes at midday on 30 October 2020. UPDATED – Updated information on the action you need to take regarding data protection and data flows with the EU/EEA after the end of the transition period is available here.
Events Government departments are hosting a series of free webinars to help businesses understand the support available. Keep up to date with all the latest available webinars here, watch past HMRC videos here and find videos to help you learn more about trading with the EU from 1 January here. Various dates – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Various dates – Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and flexible furloughing webinar. Register here. Wednesday 14 October - Join this webinar with Nadhim Zahawi MP to discuss government support for BAME businesses during the pandemic. Tuesday 27 October – Life Sciences Business Support Webinar - The UK has left the EU and is leaving the EU single market and customs union. The end of the transition period means businesses should take action now to prepare for guaranteed changes and new rules from January 2021. To support business preparations the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is hosting free webinars to help you check the new rules and understand the actions to take. Please find the full schedule and sign up for live sessions here.
MHRA webinars From 1 January 2021, the MHRA will be the UK’s standalone medicines and medical devices regulator. Stakeholders need to get ready for new rules from 1 January 2021. The agency has now published guidance which will apply following the end of the transition period. To help stakeholders understand the detail of the guidance and to ask any questions, the agency is running a series of free webinars, please click here for more detail on the webinar dates and topics. Register for free webinars to learn more about what you need to do to export animals, fish and high risk foods not of animal origin from 1 January 2021.
Workforce
REMINDER – From 1 January 2021, freedom of movement between the UK and EU is ending and the UK will introduce a new points-based immigration system. The new system will introduce job, salary and language requirements, treating EU and non-EU citizens equally and transforming the way in which employers recruit from outside the UK. From 1 January 2021, you will need a sponsor license to hire most eligible people from outside the UK, excluding Irish citizens, who are exempt. The process usually takes around eight weeks and fees apply. You can find out more here. NEW – The Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be expanded to support businesses across the UK required to close their premises due to coronavirus restrictions. UPDATED – Further information has been published on how businesses can claim the government’s Job Retention Bonus. Check your eligibility and find out how to apply. UPDATED – The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme The grant is being extended from 1 November 2020. Find out here if you are eligible and how much you can get.
Business Support UPDATED – Clinical trials guidance has been updated with new information about how to arrange an informal regulatory advice meeting, an optional pre-assessment service for COVID-19 clinical trials and the average time for approving COVID-19 initial applications. Please find more information here. UPDATED – The list of medical devices given exceptional use authorisations during the COVID-19 pandemic has been updated here. UPDATED – The National Cyber Security Centre’s re-launched Small Business Guide sets out five key areas for businesses to help improve their cyber security. There is also guidance that helps small to medium sized organisations prepare their response to and plan their recovery from a cyber incident.
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Gov.uk/transition provides a central hub of resources for the transition period You can sign up to email alerts about the transition period on GOV.UK at this link. Sign up for Home Office email updates about developments on the status of EU citizens in the UK after we leave the EU and the next steps for EU citizens in the UK at this link. Access the ‘Check How to Export Goods’ tool here for the information you need to export goods out of the UK market. Click here for more information and advice on exporting. Click here for updated information on the Covid-19 response from the Department for Health and Social Care and Public Health England. Click here for a list of Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations you can speak with to get advice. Specific information for businesses and employers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales is available. In England, Growth Hubs can advise on local and UK Government business support. COVID 19 key contact details: o General offers of help from industry: gcfcovid19enquiries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, or visit this webpage. o Share the impact COVID-19 is having on your organisation with intel@beis.gov.uk o To provide feedback on MHRA engagement please contact engagement@mhra.gov.uk o To call the Business Support Helpline in England please dial FREEPHONE 0800 998 1098, Scotland 0300 303 0660, Business Wales 0330 060 300 and Invest Northern Ireland 0800 181 4422