The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end on 31 December and there will be no extension. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are releasing the latest information for businesses so they can take action now to get ready for new rules from January 2021.

Whilst much of the following will not be relevant to all members, it is likely all members will be affected in some way.  At the very least if you might need to hire staff from outside of the UK, undertake work within the EU or import/export equipment or materials, then it’s worth taking 45 minutes to view the UK Construction specific webinar available here.  Other sector specific webinars can be found here.

In addition, the following are available over the coming days and weeks:

• Business Travel and investing or establishing in the EU from January 2021 – 11am, Wednesday 25 November, and then on demand, register here. This webinar will provide information on the actions you should take to prepare your business for new rules from January 2021 including:
  • travelling for business
  • owning, managing or directing a business in the EU

• HMRC Transition webinars: HMRC have launched multiple editions of this live webinar covering how to complete customs import declarations and explaining how to make import declarations when importing goods between the EU and Great Britain. Find a date and to register, click here.

• Department for International Trade webinars: DIT are hosting a series of webinars primarily aimed at businesses which are UK based who importing and exporting goods. To register for the next webinar on 3 December at 10:30 am, click here. Further sessions are scheduled to be held on 10 December and 17 December.

• Smart border webinar: The Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (French customs) are hosting a webinar in English on 3 December 2020 at 2:30pm on the smart border, the French Customs IT solution to keep trade flowing between the UK and France despite the establishment of customs clearance at the border. To register, click here.

Podcast: Business and the Future of Immigration in 2021

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.


Importing and Exporting

Guidance for Hauliers and Commercial Drivers: The Haulier Handbook has been published as a one-stop-shop for key information on how to prepare vehicles and the goods they carry to continue to travel smoothy across the border and help minimise disruption.  To access, click here.

Information on Licence Security from 1 January 2021: Information has been published on import and export licence security from 1 January 2021. Licence security will need to be provided in pounds sterling. The notice tells you how license security will need to be provided from 1 January 2021. Click here for more information.

Protection of trading interests (retained blocking regulation) from 1 January 2021: Guidance has been issued that sets out how protection of trading interests (also known as the retained blocking regulation) will work in the UK from 1 January 2021. The Protection of Trading Interests Legislation protects UK persons trading with countries affected by the extraterritorial application of certain laws (currently US Sanctions against Iran and Cuba).  For more information, click here.

EU Transition – Trader and Industry Forum: To support businesses and industry to get ready for the end of the transition period, the EU Transition Trader and Industry Forum has been launched. This is designed so that you can ask questions about preparations you need to make now for the new rules to EU trade which will apply from 1 January 2021. To access this, click here.

Product Safety

Guidance for businesses regarding the end of the EU Transition Period:  The Office for Product Safety and Standards has published guidance to help businesses comply with regulations as the Transition Period ends. Separate, complementary guidance will be published for businesses trading in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  The list of published guidance documents can be viewed here.

UK Product safety and metrology from 1 January 2021: Guidance has been published for businesses on specific product safety and metrology regulations. Click here to access the guidance. Specific guidance for placing goods on the market in Great Britain can be accessed here.  Guidance for placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland can be accessed here.


Expanded Guidance

Trader Support Service: Over 7,000 traders have already signed up to the Trader Support Service which will support traders moving goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol from 1 January 2021.  For more information on this story and the service, click here.

Intellectual Property after 1 January 2021: Guidance about Intellectual Property from 1 January 2021 has been updated to reflect changes to UK Address for Service. From 1 January 2021, subject to legislative implementation, only a UK address for service will be accepted for new applications and requests to start contentious proceedings before the IPO. For more information, click here.

Help and support if your business trades with the EU:  The support page for trading with the EU from 1 January 2021 has been updated to include links to the EU Transition Trader and Industry Online Forum. For more information, click here.

ECMT international road haulage permits: The deadline to apply for ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport) permits for 2021 has now closed. Guidance has been updated to reflect what happens next if you applied for a permit. To view this, click here.

Exporting wild caught marine fishery products to the EU from 1 January 2021: The ‘One Stop Shop’ guidance for fishing and seafood businesses has been updated to reflect the latest information.  To see the full guidance, click here.

Government contacts to help medical supply businesses from 1 January 2021: In order to ensure the flow of medical supplies into the UK after 31 December 2020, the government has issued a list of contacts that businesses can use to keep medical products flowing into the UK from 1 January 2021.  To view this information, click here.