Local Government Brexit Bulletin
This bulletin includes an update from the Local Government EU Exit Team, announcements and new guidance, and news on Parliamentary activity.
Update from the Local Government EU Exit Team
Places are still available for three Brexit events. These provide a good opportunity to hear the latest information and provide feedback to central government departments, and to discuss Brexit preparedness with peers. Please share with colleagues who may be interested. Tickets are free.
Adult Social Care – 13 March, London
This session will be run in partnership with Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and will be most suitable for Directors for Adult Social Care and Heads of Service. The session will include the following topics:
• Potential impacts of Brexit on adult social care
• Contingency planning
• Views from key sector bodies
Tickets are available here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-government-eu-exit-workshop-adult-social-care-asc-tickets-54920988154
Regulatory Services and Trading Standards – 15 March, London
This event will be most relevant for Trading Standards Officers, Environmental Health Officers and Port Health Officers and will include discussions on:
• Imports and exports of non-food consumer goods and products
• Import and export controls for products, animal, food and feed system
• Catch Certificate Checks and Export Health Certificates
• Food labelling
Tickets are available here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-government-eu-exit-workshop-regulatory-services-and-trading-standards-tickets-57409725033
Coastal Authorities -18 March, Southampton
This event will be held in partnership with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Border Delivery Group. The day will include discussions on:
• Trading standards, including advice for border inspection points and surveillance systems
• Information on the EU Settlement Scheme
• The MHCLG Coastal Communities Fund
• Advice for businesses
Tickets are available here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eu-exit-and-coastal-authorities-tickets-57831088342
Announcements and new guidance
Several government departments have recently published new or updated guidance on preparing businesses for Brexit. Businesses can access guidance and sign up for customised alerts at www.gov.uk/euexitbusiness
DEFRA has recently published ‘landing pages’ for several key business sectors including:
• Food and Drink
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-food-and-drink-sector-and-preparing-for-eu-exit
• Farming
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-farming-sector-and-preparing-for-eu-exit
• Chemicals
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-chemicals-sector-and-preparing-for-eu-exit
• Fisheries
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-fisheries-sector-and-preparing-for-eu-exit
• Vets
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-veterinary-sector-and-preparing-for-eu-exit
Other updates include:
• MHCLG released guidance for local authorities on accessing data from the European Economic Area in a No Deal Brexit
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/accessing-data-from-the-european-economic-area-under-no-deal-brexit/accessing-data-from-the-european-economic-area-eea-under-no-deal-brexit
• Department for International Trade (DIT) released information on trade agreements with non-EU countries which could be affected when we leave the EU
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/existing-trade-agreements-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-without-a-deal
• DIT has also published guidance from French customs authorities for UK businesses
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/french-customs-guidance-after-brexit
• The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published guidance for businesses
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/prepare-your-business-for-the-uk-leaving-the-eu
• The Border Delivery Group and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have published a set of communications resources on GOV.UK, to accompany their Partnership Pack
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/partnership-pack-preparing-for-a-no-deal-eu-exit
• There is also a toolkit available which can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hfugr1z1haot9ad/AABnx3t-zbb3wVCoOlrVkK8ca?dl=0
Business Engagement
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have published several updates including:
• Guidance for businesses on the regulatory requirements for placing goods on the UK and EU markets after the UK leaves the EU:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/manufactured-goods-regulatory-requirements-after-brexit/manufactured-goods-regulatory-requirements-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-without-a-deal
• Guidance for UK businesses on EU service provision if the UK leaves the EU without a deal (with DIT and the FCO)
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/providing-services-to-eea-and-efta-countries-after-eu-exit
BEIS also hosts a weekly EU Exit Business Readiness Forum aimed at business representative organisations, trade associations and professional bodies to support businesses to prepare for a No Deal scenario.
BEIS is also keen to support the engagement you are undertaking to help businesses in your area prepare for Brexit. If you would like their support, please contact LGEngagement@communities.gov.uk
A consolidated list of guidance is also available:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-government-brexit-preparedness
Parliamentary activity
• On Friday, The Prime Minister gave a speech in Grimsby on Brexit
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-in-grimsby-8-march-2019
For feedback you may have on this bulletin, please contact lgengagement@communities.gov.uk