Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 12 March 2021
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 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 nita.bhanot@beis.gov.uk For any questions on the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, please contact euexit@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk
News NEW – On Thursday 11 March, government set out a new timetable for introducing import border control processes to enable UK businesses to focus on their recovery. The government will now introduce full border control processes on 1 January 2022, six months later than originally planned. For more information, click here. REMINDER – Applications for the SME Brexit Support Fund will open on Monday 15th March. This could give you up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover. For more information, click here.
Regulation
UPDATED – Guidance on how the supply of medical devices from Great Britain to Northern Ireland works has been updated with a new section on customs requirements. For more information, click here. UPDATED – The MHRA have updated guidance on importing medicines into Northern Ireland before 31 December 2021. For more information, click here. REMINDER – As part of an ongoing consultation that will help inform the MHRA’s strategy over the future use of regulatory flexibilities, the agency would like to gather further insight
and options from a variety of healthcare professionals through a survey which will close at 5pm on Monday, 15 March 2021.
Transition Guidance NEW – Irish Customs have introduced some additional functionality for those using the PreBoarding Notifications service, providing text and email updates for channel routings for loads. For more information, click here. UPDATED – The list of customs agents and fast parcel operators who can help submit customs declarations has been updated. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on applying for authorisation for the UK Trader Scheme if you bring goods into Northern Ireland has been updated to include new information about authorisation requirements. For more information, click here. If you do not have experience in customs or would like to find out more information, you can register with the Trader Support Service to support you with this process. UPDATED – Guidance on declaring goods you bring into Northern Ireland not ‘at risk’ of moving to the EU has been updated with information about making a declaration based on expected outcomes. Further information about rules of origin requirements and preferential rates when bringing goods into Northern Ireland has also been added. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on the VAT treatment of transactions, or movement of goods which span the end of the transition period has been updated at Section 6: Financial services and includes a link to the new detailed guidance on transitional guidance for VAT specified supplies. For more information, click here. UPDATED – The list of trade agreements with non-EU countries has been updated to reflect the signing and entry into effect of the Ghana-UK EPA. For more information, click here.
Business Support
NEW – The new Recovery Loan Scheme ensures businesses of any size can continue to access loans and other kinds of finance up to £10 million per business once the existing COVID-19 loan schemes close, providing support as businesses recover and grow following the disruption of the pandemic and the end of the transition period. The scheme launches on 6 April and is open until 31 December. For more information on the scheme, click here. UPDATED – Find out if you are eligible for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme fourth grant which will cover the period February 2021 to April 2021. For more information on the scheme, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on the Closed Business Lockdown Payment (CBLP) has been updated to reflect the grant scheme closing date and confirmed details of new subsidy allowance. The deadline to apply is 31 March 2021. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on the Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses) has been updated with the grant scheme closing date and confirmed details of new subsidy allowance. The deadline to apply is 31 March 2021. For more information, click here.
UPDATED – Guidance on the Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses) has been updated with information on the closing date and details of new subsidy allowance. The deadline to apply is 31 March 2021. For more information, click here. NEW – Government has announced that the ban on commercial evictions has been extended to 30 June 2021 to ensure businesses are supported as they re-open. Further information can be found here.
Workforce
UPDATED – Guidance on the Kickstart Scheme has been updated with information about the funding schedule. Employers will get an initial payment of £1,860 – this includes £360 per job placement for admin costs. More detail has also been added to the steps in getting the young people into the job placements. For more information, click here. UPDATED – All businesses regardless of size are now able to register to order free workplace testing kits for their employees who are unable to work from home. Businesses can register here for tests – all businesses, including those that are currently closed, need to register by 31 March 2021. NEW – From 8 March 2021, passengers travelling internationally will need to carry a new form that sets out their trip is permitted under the stay at home restrictions. The simple form must be downloaded, signed before travel, and carried or downloaded onto a mobile phone. UPDATED – Guidance on jobs that qualify for travel exemptions has been updated. Some people are exempt from completing the declaration form because of the job they do. To find out about which jobs are exempt and the conditions that apply, click here. NEW – A new short explainer document has been produced to help you understand the new rules that are in place for business travel to Europe for work. These rules apply to you if you are travelling for work in Europe regardless of whether you are attending a conference or providing services. For more information on entry requirements, luggage, earnings, qualifications, and insurance pertaining to your travel, view the full explainer document. UPDATED – Guidance on coronavirus tests for HGV and van drivers has been updated with information on test timeframes for round-trips between the UK and France, and the timestamped document drivers will receive to help verify how much time they have spent in the UK. For more information, click here.
Events Keep up to date with all the latest available webinars: • • • •
Find videos to support your business during coronavirus disruptions here. NEW - Watch past HMRC videos on coronavirus here and UK transition here. A YouTube video on trader responsibilities when using an intermediary has been added. Find videos to help you learn more about trading with the EU from 1 January here. NEW - Click here to view a list of webinars for organisations that trade with the EU you can watch live or on demand. This now includes recordings from recent webinars
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for EU audiences (including details on using Short Straits routes, routes into Belgium and the Netherlands, and moving goods from GB to Ireland or France). The Home Office has created a podcast episode to help you prepare for the pointsbased immigration system. Listen now to Business and the Future of Immigration in 2021. Also available on Spotify and Apple. 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 listen to the podcast, just search ‘The HSE Podcast’ on your chosen platform. Audiences can also register to receive notifications for each episode released using this link. BEIS has launched a series of on demand videos, to help businesses familiarise themselves with the new rules. Topics include importing and exporting, trade, Rules of Origin, tariffs, data, and audit and accounting. To view the videos, click here. NEW - Webinars giving an overview of the new rules that have come into place since leaving the EU customs union and the EU single market are now available to view. To access these, click here.
NEW Various dates – A calendar of upcoming webinars for organisations that trade with the EU is available here. Topics include: importing, trader responsibilities, exporting and more. Various dates - DHSC are holding open sessions on various topics in relation to the Goldacre Review, which are advertised on Eventbrite. Register your interest below: • SMEs: 15/03/2021, 10-11:30 PM • Medical Research Charities: 17/03/2021, 3:30-5 PM
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. Various dates – HMRC webinar on completing customs import declarations. To register and find a date, please click here. Various dates – The National Cyber Security Centre is running a series of free cyber security webinars and talks aimed at UK businesses of all sizes, educational institutions and charities. For more information, click here. NEW – 19th March 2021, 09:40 – 16:20, The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are running an online event for Northern Powerhouse based SMEs wishing to embark on their own net zero journey. Limited places available, register here.
Useful Links • • •
Gov.uk/transition provides a central hub of resources You can sign up to email alerts on GOV.UK at this link. Sign up for Home Office email updates about the next steps for EU citizens in the UK at this link.
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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. Register for HMRC’s free Trader Support Service if you are moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The most up-to-date guidance on the Northern Ireland Protocol is on GOV.UK, including information on moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland. VAT guidance about the conditions for zero rating VAT on the goods you export, and what you should do when you export goods in specific circumstances. A list of government Brexit transition helplines organised by theme and key actions for businesses has been published. To view this, click here. 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