Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 18 September 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 whilst the UK is in 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 NEW – UK and Japan agree a free trade agreement The UK has secured a free trade agreement with Japan, which is the UK’s first major trade deal as an independent trading nation and will increase trade with Japan by an estimated £15.2 billion. UK businesses will benefit from tariff-free trade on 99% of exports to Japan. Further details can be found 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, and watch past HMRC videos 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. 8 October – ABHI Virtual IVDR Conference. In the virtual conference ABHI will review how best to embed the requirements of IVDR into your organisation, taking into account key commercial considerations including product development and market access. Please find out more information and register here.
Trader Readiness New – Letter to businesses about new trade arrangements with the EU from 1 January 2021: HMRC have written to businesses about the new trading arrangements when the UK leaves the EU single market and Customs Union. You can find a copy of the letter here. An overview of the steps to take is below. •
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Make sure you have a GB EORI number: You should already have an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number. You will need this to complete customs declarations. If you do not yet have one, you can register for free here. Decide how you’re going to make customs declarations: Customs agents, freight forwarders and express operators can help you with declarations and ensure you’re providing the necessary information. Find out more here. See if your imported goods are eligible for staged controls: Most traders with a good compliance record will be able to defer import declarations on most goods for up to 6 months after 1 January 2021. Apply to use simplified declarations for imports here. Decide how you will account for import VAT when you make a customs declaration: From 1 January 2021, businesses will be able to use postponed VAT accounting to account for import VAT on their VAT Return for goods imported from anywhere in the world. Check if Import VAT is due at the border: Import VAT will not be due at the border if goods in a consignment do not exceed £135 in value. The only exceptions will be excise goods and gifts. Check the Controlled goods list to see if you need to complete declarations from January. If your goods are not on the list you can choose to delay import declarations until July 2021: To check if your imported goods are on the Controlled goods list. Check the government’s tariff tables and consider how your trade will be affected: From 1 January 2021, there will be new rates of Customs Duty for imports called the UK Global Tariff. Sign up for the new Trader Support Service, if you move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland or bring goods into Northern Ireland from outside the UK: The free Trader Support Service (TSS) will handle the new processes arising under the Northern Ireland Protocol for you from 1 January 2021. To register your interest for using this service here. Further information about movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be available soon. Please note TSS is not available for goods moved between Great Britain and the EU.
Further Transition Guidance NEW – HMRC video guidance for business who are brand new to customs: HMRC have created a series of short videos aimed at helping those businesses brand new to customs: • •
What is customs and customs clearance? Found here. What you need to know to bring goods into the UK? Found here.
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What you need to do to send goods out of the UK? Found here.
UPDATED – Guidance on passport rules for travel to Europe from 1 January 2021: Check whether you need to renew your passport before travelling to Europe from 1 January 2021. Found here. UPDATED – Guidance list of customs agents and fast parcel operators from 1 January 2021 Find customs agents and fast parcel operators who can help submit customs declarations from 1 January 2021. The list has been updated to include additional customs agents and fast parcel operators and can be found here. UPDATED - Guidance on Applying for grants if your business completes customs declarations Find out what grants you can apply for to get funding for recruitment, training and IT improvements if your business completes customs declarations. Further information is available here.
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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 To offer your support producing ventilators please contact the Business Support Helpline for England on 0300 456 3565 or ventilator.support@beis.gov.uk. o If you have already offered to assist on the ventilators project but not received a reply, please contact existing.ventilators@dhsc.gov.uk. 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
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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