Brexit Bulletin - 23 November 2020
|
 |
As we await progress on negotiations surrounding the UK’s future relationship with the EU, there are important actions businesses need to take to prepare for the end of the transition period on 1 January.
ADS continues to deliver webinars to explain the steps your business should be taking. We have two Brexit webinars before the end of the transition period and our next one on Thursday 3 December at 14:00 will look at logistics and freight.
In the meantime, you can always find the latest guidance and recordings of previous webinars on our Brexit Hub.
|
|
Since the last Bulletin, there has been little progress in negotiations between the UK and EU. While negotiations have continued behind closed doors, the political rhetoric has increased on both sides as they seek to gain concessions from the other on the main sticking points of state aid and fisheries.
Early this week is now seen as the ‘landing zone’ for a deal to be struck, although the deadline for reaching a deal has been pushed back a number of times over the past month so it is possible talks will continue into next week. However, the longer it takes for a deal to be agreed the less time there will be for the deal to be signed off by EU leaders and ratified by the UK and EU Parliaments.
|
|
Actions to take: If you are based in or trade with Northern Ireland
|
Members are encouraged to sign up to the Trader Support System (TSS). The TSS is a free service targeted at businesses trading in or with Northern Ireland and will provide initial support in key areas of change including:
- Guidance and training to support traders implementing changes arising from the Northern Ireland Protocol, including new declaration requirements
- Enabling traders to make declarations with purchasing software
- Helping traders save time in completing declarations
If you sign up to the TSS before 23 November 2020 you will automatically be assigned an XI EORI number, which is required for moving goods between Northern Ireland and non-EU countries, including Great Britain.
We do not expect the Northern Ireland Border Operating Model to be published until there are further agreements made by the Joint Committee with regards to Northern Ireland. However, there
is new guidance on placing manufactured goods on the NI market and placing manufactured goods on the GB market (including unfettered access content). This complements the ‘how to use the UKNI marking page’ published a few weeks ago.
|
|
|
|
Working in the UK after the end of the Transition Period: Immigration & Worker Mobility
|
Last week, the Government published updated guidance on Frontier Workers Rights in the UK at the end of the Transition Period. A frontier worker is an EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss citizen who is employed or self-employed in the UK but living elsewhere.
The key information for workers from the EU, EEA and Switzerland is that they will be able to keep their frontier worker status if they are frontier working in the UK by 31 December 2020. However, they will need to apply for a frontier worker permit.
On 10 December, the Government will launch a frontier worker permit scheme. Frontier workers will be able to apply if they have frontier worker status and applications will be free.
The Home Office have also launched an EU-facing campaign to increase awareness among EU citizens that free movement is ending and to increase understanding of what the new systems means for them.
|
|
|
The end of the transition period is fast approaching, and the Government continues to inform businesses the changes to trading with the EU they will face from 1 January 2021.
This week, we focus on the requirements businesses will face relating to the licensing and export of military and dual-use items, and changes to trade sanctions implementation.
It is important to note that the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) will still be responsible for issuing licenses. Since there are already controls on several military goods and dual-use items, many in our sectors will be aware of current controls and the requirements that apply to them.
|
|
|
At the end of the transition period, EU law will be transferred into UK law, with a few changes to ensure this is operationally sound. These text and other changes include:
- Controls on “export outside EU” become controls on “export outside UK”
- A licence will be required to export from GB to EU (they currently move licence-free)
- An Open General Export Licence (OGEL) has been published to facilitate dual-use exports to EU and Channel Islands. OGEL is available for registration on SPIRE
- Licences issued by the UK will no longer be valid for export from the EU. EU member states will be required to issues licenses if they are the originating point of the good export.
- Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, “live” EU export control law will continue to apply “to and in” NI
Full customs declarations and checks will still be required, and HMRC and Border Force remain responsible for the enforcement of these controls.
To help support business with customs declarations, HMRC has launched a series of videos:
|
|
|
|
Thursday 3 December | 14:00
In our next Preparing for Brexit webinar series, we will be taking members through the practical steps you need to take for moving freight between the UK and EU. We will be joined by Mark Johnson, National Customs and Trade Control Director from Kuehne + Nagel, a global transport and logistics company, to look at what businesses need to do for goods moving from the EU to the UK, and from the UK to the EU.
BOOK YOUR PLACE
|
|
|
Another chance to listen to the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) at the Department for International Trade who outlined the scope of Export Controls and detailing what will change as a result of leaving the EU.
LISTEN TO RECORDING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
