EU Transition Update 14 December 2020 by Camilla Call, International Trade Advisor
After Sunday’s deadline came and went in the UK-EU negotiations, a joint statement was issued by Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen saying it was responsible to continue talks to try and reach agreement. In the updated guidance section the Business Secretary has written to businesses about personal data flows between the UK and EU. There are also a number of updates to moving goods from 1 January.
On December 9 we heard that agreement had been reached on how the Withdrawal Agreement will be implemented in Northern Ireland. Full details here. Amongst other things, this means that goods remaining in Northern Ireland will not be subject to EU tariffs and export summaries will not be required for goods travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
Sky News shared on 13 December how the government is reassuring the public that it’s prepared for no trade deal, with £4bn being spent on measures to limit disruption to trade and travel.
Businesses can use the British Chambers of Commerce’s End of Transition Period Checklist to help them prepare for the changes.
A reminder that EU citizens living and working in the UK must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme before 30 June 2021 (must be resident in the UK by 31 December 2020). If this applies to you, your family, friends or employees, advice and support on making your application is available from a Citizens Advice caseworker on 07761 092704 or email euss.advice@citizensadvicebcp.org.uk.
New and Updated Guidance
The latest HMRC letter sent to VAT registered businesses has been sent out listing upcoming changes from 1 January 2021 and what needs to be done to prepare.
Moving Goods
NEW: The Goods Vehicle Movement Service: If you’re a haulier and move goods through a port in the UK that uses the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, you’ll need to register for the service to get your goods through customs.
- For more information and to register for the Vehicle Movement Service, click here
- Check how to move goods through ports that use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, here
NEW: How VAT will apply to goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Guidance has been issued with information about how import VAT will apply to goods moving between GB and NI, for individuals and non-VAT registered businesses. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: Moving goods through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel using common transit from 1 January 2021: Guidance and information on the inland border facilities has been updated. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: Moving goods through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel with an ATA Carnet from 1 January 2021: Guidance has been updated, with details of inland border facilities, and transporting live animals under an ATA Carnet. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: Moving goods through the Port of Holyhead with an ATA Carnet from 1 January 2021: Guidance has been updated and information about transporting live animals under an ATA Carnet has been added. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: Get your business ready to move goods to the common or EU countries: Guidance on what you need to do to prepare your business to move goods using common and Union Transit has been updated to explain what you need to do if you are using transit from 1 January 2021. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: The list of customs agents and fast parcel operators has been updated. Click here to view this.
UPDATED: ECMT international road haulage permits: Guidance has been updated to confirm that emails have been sent to tell applicants if they’ve been allocated an ECMT permit for 2021. For more information, click here.
Intellectual Property
UPDATED: Intellectual Property after 1 January 2021: Guidance on international trademarks and designs has been updated. For more information, click here.
Webinars
Trading with the EU: A video series has been released that explains what businesses need to do to be ready for 1 January 2021. These videos cover what businesses need to know about exports and imports, customs, commodity codes and controlled goods. To view the videos, click here.
A message from the Business Secretary: Take action now to ensure personal data flows freely from the EU/EEA to the UK
With just three weeks to go until the end of the transition period on 31 December, there is still time to prepare. You can find out what actions you may need to take by using the checker tool at gov.uk/transition and keep up to date with regular business readiness bulletins too.
In this week’s letter, I want to focus on actions you should take to ensure personal data continues to flow freely from the EU/EEA to the UK.
Personal data is any information that can be used to identify a person, including names, delivery details, IP addresses, or HR data such as payroll details. Most organisations use personal data in their daily operations.
An example of this is a UK company that receives customer information from an EU company, such as names and addresses, to provide goods or services.
If you receive personal data from the EU/EEA, I urge you to act now to ensure you can continue to lawfully receive data from your clients in the EU from 1 January 2021, whatever the EU decides. Specifically, this means:
- You should take stock of the personal data you process prior to 1 January 2021.
- If you receive personal data from a company based in an EU/EEA country, you should map your data flows and put in place alternative transfer mechanisms, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), with any relevant EU organisations (the EU has yet to make a decision as to whether they accept that the UK’s data protection regime is still adequate).
- Visit UK/using-personal-data-2021 for guidance on the actions your business or organisation needs to take regarding data protection and data flows.
Making changes now will ensure a smooth end to the transition period and see businesses ready to take advantage of the new legal and economic freedoms that being an independent trading nation will bring.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP
Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Dorset Chamber delivers a free of charge International Trade and EU Transition advice service to all businesses, supported by Dorset LEP. For information and advice please contact us at gateway@dcci.co.uk / 01202 714800 or visit dorsetchamber.co.uk.