Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 17 July 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 Anisha.Visram@beis.gov.uk New campaign to prepare the UK for end of the transition period On Monday 13 July the UK Government launched a major new public information campaign called “The UK’s new start: let’s get going” to give everyone the facts that they will need to be ready for 1 January 2021. A straightforward checker tool at gov.uk/transition will quickly identify the specific steps any business or individual needs to take to be ready, and will allow companies to sign up for bespoke updates. Taking these steps will equip businesses for when we exit the transition period. The UK is leaving the single market and customs union at the end of the year, and so most of the actions businesses and citizens are being asked to take will need to be completed regardless of the outcome of negotiations. More information on the campaign can be found here. Publication of the new Border Operating Model On 1 January 2021 the transition period with the EU will end, and the UK will operate a full, external border as a sovereign nation. This means that controls will be placed on the movement of goods between GB and the EU. To afford industry extra time to make necessary arrangements, the UK Government has taken the decision to introduce the new border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021. The Border Operating Model provides clarity and certainty for the border industry and businesses, including technical detail on how the border with the EU will work after the transition period and the actions that traders, hauliers, ports and carriers need to take. To help businesses prepare for these changes and continue to trade guides on how to import and export goods are available.
A £705 million package has been announced for border infrastructure, jobs and technology to ensure GB border systems are fully operational when the UK takes back control of its border after the end of the transition period. The operating model does not apply to UK internal movements such as those between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. More detailed guidance for UK businesses moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland will be available in the coming weeks. Mandatory face coverings in shops
The Government has announced that face coverings will be mandatory from 24 July when shopping. Those who do not wear a face covering in shops will face a fine of up to £100. Shops can refuse entry to someone not wearing a face covering and can call the police if someone fails to comply. Guidance on face covering, their role in reducing the transmission of coronavirus, the settings in which they are recommended, and how they should be safely used and stored is available here. UK Internal Market Consultation
On 16 July the UK Government laid out plans to deliver on its manifesto commitment to ensure businesses across the whole of the UK will continue to enjoy seamless internal trade, as they have done for centuries, when we leave the Transition Period at the end of the year. Under plans now open for consultation, the UK Government will strengthen and maintain the coherence of the UK’s internal market, guaranteeing the continued ability of all UK companies to trade unhindered in every part of the UK, while ensuring the continued prosperity and wellbeing of people and businesses across all four nations. Please find more information on the White Paper and consultation here. The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy
The Prime Minister has set out the plans for moving to the next phase of the UK Government’s response to the virus. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread. The roadmap will be kept constantly under review as the epidemic, and the world’s understanding of it, develops. Local lockdown As of 18 July, local authorities will have new powers to close specific premises, close public outdoor spaces, and cancel events. These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to local outbreaks, where speed is paramount to prevent them from spreading more widely. Local lockdown will remain a last resort when other actions have been insufficient. More information 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, and watch past HMRC videos here.
Various dates – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – How to make a claim Wednesday 22 July – Coronavirus COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme Various dates – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Wednesday 22 July – join a free webinar on Digital security following Covid-19 and keeping your business secure online. A representative from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will provide an overview of the cyber security risks facing businesses during and after COVID-19, as well as a look at the range of resources freely available from the NCSC for businesses. Please register here. Various dates – HMRC webinar on changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, sets out how employers will be affected, flexible furloughing, key dates and support available. Sign up here.
Workforce UPDATED – Further details on the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System have been published, providing more information to employers on the draft requirements and conditions underpinning the key immigration routes in the Points-Based System. NEW – Guidance on claiming through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for individuals who are paid through PAYE but not necessarily employees in employment law. Find out more here. UPDATED – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme guidance on calculating how much you can claim has been updated here, and guidance on claiming for employees while they are serving a statutory notice period has been updated here here. UPDATED – Information on the process HMRC is developing to recover overclaimed grant amounts through the tax system has been updated here. NEW – The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme is now closed for the first grant. New guidance has been published if you have been overpaid, made a claim in error and were not eligible for the grant or would like to make a voluntary repayment. UPDATED – Guidance on the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme has been updated here on how HMRC works out trading profits and non-trading income, and how different circumstances affect the scheme here. UPDATED – Guidance has been updated to confirm that from 13 July 2020 providers can welcome back 19+ apprentices into educational settings, that the flexibility to suspend level 2 functional skills for level 2 apprentices has been extended, and to provide more information on support for redundant apprentices.
Support to business NEW – At the end of the transition period, the eCommerce Directive will no longer apply to the UK. Rules relating to online activities in European Economic Area (EEA) countries may
newly apply to UK online service providers who operate in the EEA from 1 January 2021. You should begin to prepare for these changes now. NEW – From 1 January 2021, you’ll no longer be able to register or renew a “.eu” domain name if your organisation, business or undertaking is established in the UK but not in the EU/European Economic Area (EEA), or you live outside of the EU/EEA and are not an EU/EEA citizen. Find out more here. NEW – International trademark registrations protected in the EU under the Madrid Protocol will no longer enjoy protection in the UK after 1 January 2021. To address this, on 1 January 2021 UK Government will create a comparable trademark (IR) in relation to each international (EU) trademark designation which has protected status immediately before 1 January 2021. Find out more here. NEW – HMRC has unveiled a new package of measures to accelerate growth of the UK’s customs intermediary sector by adding £50 million to its popular grant fund for customs agent recruitment, training and IT. Find out more here. NEW – If you import and export manufactured goods from 1 January 2021 you should check if the labelling and marketing standards you must follow are changing from 1 January 2021. NEW – From 1 January 2021 you’ll need to get a licence or certificate to import some types of goods into the UK. You might also need to pay an inspection fee for some goods before they’re allowed into the UK. Find out more and check here. NEW – From 1 January 2021 you’ll need to get a licence or certificate to export some types of goods from the UK. Check here. UPDATED - From 1 January 2021, your representative dealing with customs for your business will need to be established in Great Britain or Northern Ireland. More information is available here. An updated list of customs agents and fast parcel operators who can help submit customs declarations from 1 January 2021 is available here. UPDATED – Guidance has been updated to clarify that you need to be authorised to make simplified declarations for imports before you make your supplementary declaration. UPDATED – Guidance on how to trade in plants and plant products inside and outside the EU from 1 January 2021 has been updated with new instructions on the import and export processes in 2021. NEW – Guidance on how to dispose of your business waste, including face coverings and PPE. Please find more information here. NEW – Universities in England facing severe financial difficulties as a result of the coronavirus will now be able to apply for further Government support. The scheme will review providers’ circumstances and assess the case for restructuring support, including last resort financial support, through repayable loans. Find out more here. UPDATED – Guidance for higher education providers in England on when and how to reopen their campuses and buildings has been updated with information on performing arts, transport and international students and self-isolation. MHRA updates UPDATED – guidance on how tests and testing kits for COVID-19 work has been updated, please find more information 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 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