Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 20 November 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
Transition Guidance NEW - If you’re a UK-based business bringing or receiving goods into Great Britain or Northern Ireland find out what declarations may need to be made by clicking here. NEW - If you’re a UK-based business sending goods from Great Britain or Northern Ireland find out what declarations may need to be made by clicking here. UPDATED - Guidance about personal data provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement has been updated. Click here for more information and to see what actions you need to take regarding data protection and data flows with the EU/EEA, after the end of the transition period. NEW - HMRC have released a short video to promote a new digital tool to help traders check if they can apply for authorisations to delay customs payments and declarations. To view the video, click here. UPDATED – the date that you can claim VAT refunds has been updated: •
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VAT refunds from EU countries from 1 January 2021: You can continue to use the EU VAT refund system to claim a VAT refund on expenses incurred before 1 January 2021 in EU member states, until 11pm on 31 March 2021. For more information, click here. UK VAT refunds from 1 January if you’re an EU business: The UK will continue to accept refund claims through the EU VAT refund system for VAT charged in the
UK before 1 January 2021, until 11pm on 31 March 2021. For more information, click here. UPDATED - The list of customs agents and fast parcel operators has been updated. For more information, click here. NEW – A letter to medicines and medical product suppliers to update on plans and preparations ahead of the end of the transition period from Steve Oldfield, DHSC Chief Commercial Officer, 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, 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. Various dates – 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. Various dates - HMRC Completing customs import declaration, please register here. Wednesday 25 November - Business Travel and investing or establishing in the EU from January 2021, register here. Wednesday 25 November – ABHI Regulatory Conference: Split into two parts, the morning session will focus on regulatory strategy, the shift towards global harmonisation and how, post-Brexit, regulation can contribute to the attractiveness of the UK as a place to develop and distribute health technologies. The afternoon session will address the practical elements of the UKCA mark, how this route will interact with Europe, and the actions companies need to undertake to ensure compliance. Please find more information and register here.
Workforce
UPDATED – Guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been updated with detail on employer claim information that HMRC will make public. Please find more information here. UPDATED - Guidance on calculating how much you can claim for furloughed and flexibly furloughed employees has been updated with clarification of information relating to claim period deadlines and timings
UPDATED - Eligibility criteria has been made clearer for employees who are made redundant on or after 23 September 2020 and you have re-employed and employees that have a fixed term contract that expired after 23 September. Find out more here. UPDATED - Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations has been updated with information about the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the national restrictions guidance, the package of support available for those who have been made redundant on or after 15 October, and functional skills.
Business Support NEW - From 1 January 2021, businesses will be able to use “Find a Tender” to view public procurement notices published by UK contracting authorities. You will still be able to use existing portals such as Contracts Finder, MOD Defence Contracts Online, Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI to view low value or location specific notices. For more information, click here. NEW – New MHRA Guidance on minimising disruptions to the conduct and integrity of clinical trials of medicines during COVID-19 has been published, please find more information here. UPDATED – The list of medical devices given exceptional use authorisations during the COVID-19 pandemic has been updated. Please find more information here. NEW - Income Tax and National Insurance contributions exemption for employer-provided Coronavirus antigen tests: The government is committed to supporting businesses and individuals through the Coronavirus pandemic, and this measure aims to make sure the use of relevant antigen testing procedures by employers are not subject to a tax charge. Find out more here. NEW - New guidance for lorry drivers and maritime and aviation transport crew moving freight between the UK and places with outbreaks of variant strain COVID-19 has been published.
Useful Links • • • • •
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.
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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