Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 11 June 2021
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 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 For any questions on the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, please contact euexit@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk
News NEW – On Wednesday 9 June, the United Kingdom and the European Union held the first meeting of the Partnership Council in London. The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere and marks an important milestone in our new relationship as friendly trading partners and sovereign equals. To read a statement on the meeting, click here. NEW – On Wednesday June, the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee met in London. Lord Frost and Vice-President Šefčovič commended the extensive technical discussions that have already taken place on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. The UK made clear its continued commitment to constructive engagement in order to find pragmatic solutions for Northern Ireland. To read the statement on the meeting, click here.
Regulation UPDATED – Section 12 under ‘Notices made under the Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018’ has been updated. The period in which a simplified customs declaration can be made, followed by a supplementary declaration 175 days later, for imports made using a fixed transport installation has been extended to 31 December 2021. For more information, click here.
Transition Guidance UPDATED – The lists of customs agents and fast parcel operators to help you with import and export declarations have been updated. For more information, click here. UPDATED – Guidance on participating in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) has been updated with more guidance on the Cost Containment Measure (CCM), the September CCM trigger price and the average May UK allowance price. For more information, click here.
Business Support REMINDER – The SME Brexit Support Fund could give you up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover. Applications will close on 30 June 2021 or earlier if all funding is allocated before this date. For more information and to apply, click here.
Events Keep up to date with all the latest available webinars: • • • • •
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Find videos to support your business during coronavirus disruptions here. Watch past HMRC videos on coronavirus here and UK transition here. Find videos to help you learn more about trading with the EU from 1 January here. Click here to view a list of webinars for organisations that trade with the EU you can watch live or on demand. BEIS has launched a series of on demand videos, to help businesses familiarise themselves with the new rules. Topics include importing and exporting, trade, Rules of Origin, tariffs, data, and audit and accounting. To view the videos, click here. Webinars giving an overview of the new rules that have come into place since leaving the EU customs union and the EU single market are now available to view. To access these, click here. New short videos have been produced to help explain importing and exporting of animal and plant goods. For more information, click here. Cabinet Office have published new recordings and videos that outline in more technical detail the new rules for moving goods to and from the EU. For more information, click here.
14 June 2021, 13:00 – The Home Office are running an event targeted at SMEs to raise awareness of the new points-based immigration system and to give an overview of the EU Settlement Scheme. Sign up here. 8 July 2021, 10-11:30 – Medtech Canada are hosting a webinar on the regulatory and innovation landscape in Canada. Click here to register.
Various dates – A calendar of upcoming webinars for organisations that trade with the EU is available here. Topics include: importing, trader responsibilities, exporting and more. Upcoming HMRC Brexit webinars: • • • •
Various dates – Completing customs declarations: an overview. Register here. Various dates – Trader responsibilities when using an intermediary. Register here. Various dates – Importing: preparing to make your supplementary declaration. Register here. Various dates – Exporting: what you need to do to keep your goods moving. Register here.
Upcoming HMRC COVID-19 webinars: •
Various dates – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Register here.
Useful Links • • • • • • • •
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Gov.uk/transition provides a central hub of resources You can sign up to email alerts on GOV.UK at this link. Sign up for Home Office email updates about 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. Register for HMRC’s free Trader Support Service if you are moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Click here to view the latest weekly TSS bulletin. The most up-to-date guidance on the Northern Ireland Protocol is on GOV.UK, including information on moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland. For general queries on transition issues, you can submit questions on BPDG’s online forum. BPDG will endeavour to provide answers to you as soon as possible. A list of government Brexit transition helplines organised by theme and key actions for businesses has been published. To view this, click here. 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
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To provide feedback on MHRA engagement please contact engagement@mhra.gov.uk 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