Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 22 January 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 – Business Minister, Paul Scully MP, has urged businesses who have not yet taken steps to prepare for the UK’s new start since we left the EU’s Customs Union and single Market, to act now. In his message to business, the Minister highlights six key actions that many firms need to take. Please find more information here.
Regulation
UPDATED – MHRA have updated guidance on the handling of Decentralised and Mutual Recognition Procedures which are approved or pending to clarify that UK national MA applications can be submitted irrespective of applications for the same product in EU and clarification of options for on-going procedures that were not completed by 31 December 2020. 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.
Transition Guidance NEW – The new Trade with the UK tool provides information for international businesses exporting goods into the UK, covering taxes, tariffs, commodity codes and regulations. It also provides information for goods going into Northern Ireland.
NEW – The Check How to Export Goods tool provides information for UK exporters about duties, rules of origin and customs procedures for over 160 markets around the world. It also provides detailed information about the UK border. UPDATED – Reporting EU sales made on or before 31 December 2020 for VAT: Guidance has been updated to refer to EC Sales Lists for sales made on or before 31 December 2020. Businesses have until 21 January 2021 to submit EC Sales Lists made on or before 31 December 2020. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on how to import and export goods between Great Britain and the EU has been updated following the end of the Brexit transition period. Updated guidance includes ‘How to import goods into Great Britain from EU countries’ and ‘How to export goods from Great Britain into EU countries. For more information, click here. UPDATED – the list of customs agents and fast parcel operators who can help you to submit customs declarations has been updated here. NEW – Use this service, if you are a haulier, freight forwarder or driver, to tell HMRC, in advance, that you are attending an inland border facility. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on moving qualifying goods from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK has been updated with information about what to do for goods that started their journey in the EU, and were declared for export in an EU country, leaving Northern Ireland. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on carrying out international road haulage has been updated in order to help you ‘make sure you’re ready to import and export’. For more information, click here. UPDATED - Guidance on moving goods through the Port of Holyhead has been updated with information about transporting live animals under an ATA Carnet. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on using CHIEF for declaring goods into or out of Northern Ireland has been updated with information about when HMRC will tell users they must stop using CHIEF. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Key information for customers and users of IP about how the IP system and the Intellectual Property Office will operate after the end of the transition period has been updated. Guidance on Parallel trade between the UK and the EEA has been updated. For more information, click here. UPDATED – The rules governing address for service for intellectual property rights in the UK have changed. Guidance has been updated with information about bulk change of address service. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Exporting active substances manufactured in Great Britain, for use in EEA and Northern Ireland: The Register of Written Confirmations for UK active substance manufacturers has been updated. For more information, click here.
Events Keep up to date with all the latest available webinars:
• • • • • •
Find videos to to support your business during coronavirus disruptions here. Watch past HMRC videos here. Find videos to help you learn more about trading with the EU from 1 January here. Click here to view a list of webinars for organisations that trade with the EU you can watch live or on demand. 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.
NEW – To further support firms, the Business Department has launched a series of new, 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. Businesses can select which videos to view from the list or can choose their sector and see videos that are recommended for them. To view the new videos, click here. NEW – Wednesday 27 January - BPDG are holding a webinar focusing on the movement of goods from GB to the EU / From the EU to GB via non short straits locations to / from the Netherlands and Belgium. Please register 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 – HMRC Completing customs import declaration, please 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. 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