Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 30 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
News NEW – The Prime Minister gave a statement to the House of Commons on Monday 23 November 2020 outlining the Government’s winter Covid-19 plan. The PM's statement can be found here, and the Winter Plan summary is here. The full list of local restriction tiers by area from Wednesday 2 December 2020 is available here. NEW – On 25 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the spending review. The government will provide billions of pounds in the fight against coronavirus and invest in the UK’s recovery. To view the chancellor’s speech, click here, and for further details on the spending review, click here.
Transition Guidance NEW – The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, has written to specific business sectors. The letters provide tailored advice about key actions that businesses must take after the Transition period ends on 31 December 2020. Please find the life sciences letter here. NEW – Guidance has issued outlining how online market places and those who sell directly to customers in Great Britain from 1 January 2021 will deal with VAT on goods from overseas goods. NEW – Guidance has been published for businesses on specific product safety and metrology regulations, including for PPE. Please find more information here.