Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 24 December 2020
NEW - Announcement of a trade deal between the UK and EU – On 12 December the PM announced that the UK and EU had agreed a free trade deal based on zero tariffs and zero quotas. The PM’s statement on the deal can be found here. An explainer document on the deal can be found here. For any questions on the deal or on preparations for the end of the transition period please contact euexit@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk
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 nita.bhanot@beis.gov.uk
News NEW – If you have any queries over the festive period, please contact euexit@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk. NEW – On 19 December, the Prime Minister announced tougher restrictions for parts of England with a new Tier 4: ‘Stay at Home’ alert level. The full list of local restriction tiers by area is available here.
NEW – The UK Internal Market bill has received Royal Assent and will come into force from 1 January 2021. This will allow businesses to continue trading seamlessly across all four parts of the UK. More information available here.
Transition Guidance UPDATED – The MHRA have updated guidance on supplying authorised medicines to Northern Ireland to include a section which provides assurance that licensing requirements for medicines containing controlled drugs from 1 January 2021 will not be changing. For more information, click here. NEW – Guidance has been issued on the locations for a Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) and a Qualified Person responsible for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) after the end of the transition period. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on how to import and export to Iceland and Norway from 1 January 2021 has been updated here. NEW – HMRC have published guidance on what to do if you are moving goods or have goods in customs procedures at the end of the transition period. Please find more information here. UPDATED – Guidance has been updated to clarify if you need to complete an export declaration for movements starting in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance has been updated with addresses for inland alternatives for the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel for having your ATA Carnet processed. Please find more information here. UPDATED – Guidance on product safety and metrology has been updated for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. For more information on products placed on the GB market, click here. For more information on products placed on the NI market click 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. The Home Office has created a podcast episode in partnership with Intelligence Squared to help you prepare for the points-based immigration system. Listen now to Business and the Future of Immigration in 2021. Also available on Spotify and Apple 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.
Workforce
NEW – Guidance has been issued for operators, drivers and crew of HGVs on crossing an international border safely. This includes what to do if a driver or crew displays COVID symptoms, loading and unloading, limiting the length of stay and more. Further information available here.
Business Support NEW – Temporary duty suspensions and tariff quotas will apply to certain imported goods used in domestic production from 1st January 2021. The suspensions and quotas are not company-specific and can be used by any business in the UK. Application windows to apply will be opened throughout the course of the year. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance for the Local Restrictions Support Grant has been updated to reflect that all Tier 4 businesses required to close will be eligible for grants up to £1,500 for each 14-day period of closure. For more information, click 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 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