Latest DEFRA Resources Available for EU Exit
Key guidance for food and drink businesses is available on the Food and Drink GOV.UK landing page, as Brexit moves closer to its 31 October deadline.
Elsewhere here you’ll find advice for importers and exporters of animal products, and advice about food labelling, tariffs, data protection, and much more.
Below, we’ve collated key information from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) shareable resources, such as the updated Food and Drink sector leaflet, information about how you can access government support and advice through events, webinars and a new helpline for traders and hauliers.
1. Events, webinars and support
Ongoing events – new dates and locations
Further dates have been confirmed for the Brexit Business Readiness events, DIT workshops, and HMRC webinars. Please follow the links below for full details:
- Brexit Business Readiness Events
- DIT Get Ready for Brexit Workshops (particularly useful for businesses who are exporting to the EU)
- HMRC Getting ready for Brexit webinars (for UK businesses involved in the movement of goods between the EU and the UK).
New Brexit helpline for traders and hauliers
A new cross-Government telephone helpline launched this week, specifically for UK traders and hauliers exporting to and importing from the EU. The helpline will provide up-to-date signposting and guidance on arrangements for goods crossing the UK / EU border after Brexit, through a single point of enquiry. The helpline with cover issues such as:
- Requirements of the trader (e.g. customs declarations, export health certificates, controlled goods licenses/permits).
- Requirements of the haulier (e.g. trailer registrations, international driving permits).
- Other pre-requisites to trade (e.g. Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number).
- Import easements (e.g. Transitional Simplified Procedures).
The number is 0300 3301 331 and lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
2. New and updated guidance
Process maps for exporting your goods after Brexit
The process maps on how to export your goods to the EU are now available to view and download on GOV.UK.
- Chemical exporters: steps to export chemicals to the EU after Brexit (published 18 September)
- Farmers and food producers: steps to export meat and dairy to the EU after Brexit (published 18 September)
- Farmers and livestock exporters: steps to export live animals to the EU after Brexit (published 18 September)
- Seafood exporters: steps to export fishery products to the EU after Brexit (published 20 September).
Risk analysis process
The FSA has published information on their risk analysis process, as well as guidance for businesses on submitting regulated products for authorisation if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
The following information is available on food.gov.uk:
- Food and animal feed safety risk analysis after Brexit (published 19 September)
- How our food and animal feed safety risk analysis will work after Brexit (published 19 September)
- Submitting a regulated product authorisation application after Brexit (published 19 September)
- Requirements for regulated product applications after Brexit (published 19 September)
Health and Identification Marks
Businesses that use health and identification marks on products of animal origin (such as meat and dairy) are reminded to check the changes that will need to be made to the marks after Brexit.
Please visit food.gov.uk (updated 13 September) for the latest guidance to help your business prepare.
Importing and exporting wine if there’s a no-deal Brexit
The guidance for wine importers and exporters has been updated with information about wines from Chile, Australia and the United States (updated 20 September).
3. News and resources
Food and drink showcase dropbox with shareable resources
DEFRA’s new Food and Drink sector leaflet is now live – Download it here.
Social media toolkit for the ‘Get Ready’ campaign
The Department for Exiting the European Union has shared resources to help trade associations and local organisations inform their communities and encourage people to take action to prepare for Brexit. These include online graphics, posters, and a guide to writing calls to action. These resources are available to download and use.
UK advances preparations for new UK-Japan economic partnership
The UK government has today (Friday 20 September) launched an online ‘call for input’ to prepare for trade negotiations with Japan after Brexit.
Businesses, interest groups and members of the public across the whole of the UK will have the opportunity to tell the government what their priorities are for our future trade relationship with Japan. The call for input will be open for six weeks, until the 4th November 2019, and anyone can take part online. Further details can be seen in the press release here.
Reminder: Migration Advisory Committee Call for Evidence
In June 2019, Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to carry out an in-depth analysis of potential future salary thresholds and the range at which they could be set. The MAC published their Call for Evidence regarding the salary threshold and points-based system (PBS) on 10 September, and the Consultation closes at 9am on 5th November.