News and Views

The UK is getting ready for Brexit on 31 October with or without a deal. As part of our preparations for Brexit, we are continuing to provide guidance to ensure businesses are aware of what they need to do to prepare.

Agri-Food businesses should ensure that they are prepared for Brexit and continue to visit GOV.UK for guidance.

Specific guidance for food and drink businesses is available on the Food and Drink GOV.UK landing page, including advice for importers and exporters of animal products, and advice about food labelling, tariffs, data protection and more.

We’ve collated key information from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) shareable resources, for week commencing 7th October 2019.

1. Events and webinars to help you prepare for Brexit

There are several opportunities to access support and guidance to help you prepare for Brexit.

Association of Labour Providers Brexit Readiness events

The Association of Labour Providers (ALP) is hosting a number of free Brexit workshops across the country. These are open to all UK recruiters, HR professionals and employers, and will provide specific, practical guidance on the actions that businesses need to take in respect of their existing and future EU workforce. Further details can be found in this flyer, including a link to sign up to the events.

Brexit Business Readiness Events

The Government is arranging Brexit Business Readiness Events across the UK to help you prepare. Join us at a free event in your area to meet government advisers and to find out what actions your business needs to take to prepare.

The events will combine a keynote address, interactive support, advice stands and in-depth sessions led by subject matter experts. They will provide you with specific business-focused advice and help.

Register to attend an event at: https://registration.livegroup.co.uk/brexitbusinessreadinessevents/

DIT Get ready for Brexit business-facing workshops

As part of ongoing support for businesses, the Department for International Trade are running a series of events to help exporters to get ready for Brexit on 31 October. These events will be particularly useful for businesses who are exporting to the EU.

You’ll leave the event with a personalised action plan to prepare your business for Brexit. DIT will talk about impact to supply chains, changes to regulations and contracts, where to find tariff information, and what you might need to speak to customers and employees about, among a range of other topics.

See dates, locations and sign up – limited registration place available.

HMRC Getting ready for Brexit webinars

HMRC are running a number of webinars for UK businesses involved in the movement of goods between the EU and the UK.

Find out what you need to know to keep importing and exporting by signing up for a webinar.

2. New and updated guidance

An update to exporting guidance (updated 18th September)

The guidance around mixed loads has been clarified. If you’re exporting a consignment with includes a mix of products, you’ll need an Export Health Certificate for each product type. This is reflected in the GOV.UK guidance here.

Importing excise goods from Ireland to Northern Ireland (published 7th October)

HMRC has published guidance on importing excise goods from Ireland into Northern Ireland in a no-deal Brexit.

You’ll need to make an import declaration using the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system and use the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) to move the goods to a UK warehouse. There will be no physical checks at the border. The full guidance is available here.

Export composite food products to the EU in a no-deal Brexit (published 11th October)

A new guidance page has been added to GOV.UK on composite goods (such as pies and pizzas). The guidance covers what counts as a composite food product, and the rules that you will need to follow to export these products if there is a no-deal Brexit. Please find the guidance here.

3. News and resources

Brexit readiness report (published 8th October)

This week, The Government has published the Brexit readiness report detailing the UK’s preparedness ahead of Brexit on 31 October. This report has been published to inform businesses and citizens on what they need to do to get ready for Brexit on 31 October. Please find the report here.

Information videos for traders in a no-deal Brexit (updated 9th October)

HMRC have published information videos for traders in a no-deal Brexit. Find further information about Transitional Simplified Procedures, Exporting using the Common Transit Convention and a webinar about the 5 main areas that UK businesses must be aware of to keep trading goods when the UK leaves the EU. Please find these videos here.

Migration Advisory Committee: Call for evidence

The Home Secretary has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the future system of salary thresholds, and to look into an ‘Australian-style’ points-based system (PBS), and how this might work in the UK. A call for evidence for both of these commissions has been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/salary-threshold-and-points-based-system-pbs-commission-call-for-evidence. The evidence provided by stakeholders is important to inform the MAC’s work. You are invited to provide evidence to the MAC using the online forms available at the link above. The deadline to respond is 5 November 2019.

Food and drink showcase Dropbox with shareable resources

Click here to access the files: https://shwca.se/FoodBrexit