ActSmart will be providing regular updates on the EU exit.
Watch this space for the latest information and advice tailored for retail businesses operating in the cycle sector.
ActSmart have been working with partner members of the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC) to bring you the most up to date retail focussed advice, particular credit is due to the Association of Convenience Stores, our leading IRC political advocacy partner, for their input.
Minister Sets out Six Key Actions for Business Preparedness
Published 19th January
Small Business Minister, Paul Scully has set out six key actions businesses must take to ensure they can operate as normal in the post EU environment. The six key actions include; registering for an EORI number if you wish to move goods, applying to become a licensed sponsor to hire skilled staff from the EU and understanding changes to accounting and reporting. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has also launched a series of new videos to help explain actions businesses should consider. The Business Support Helpline (0800 098 1098) is a free service operating across England that can aid business understanding of the new rules and requirements.
HMRC customs declarations webinars: covering how to complete customs import declarations and explaining how to make import declarations when importing goods between the EU and Great Britain. To register and find a date, click here.
HMRC webinars: Importing: staged controls and how to prepare to use them / Exporting: actions you need to take to prepare for 1 January 2021. To register, and for more information. click here.
UK Transition Period: HSE and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday 20 January at 10am. The event will cover actions businesses need to take in preparation for the end of the transition period on 1 January 2021 when independent GB chemical regimes will be in place. To register, and for more information, click here.
Government information for retailers
Published 14th January
Below is a collation of all the Government information and resources currently available for retailers.
Movement of goods and materials:
Step-by-step guide to importing from the EU to the UK here.
Step-by-step guide to exporting to the EU from the UK here.
Moving goods between the UK and Ireland: Those who move goods between the UK and Ireland need to complete a Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) using the Irish Revenue's system. A user guide is available from the Irish Government here.
Ongoing customs movements and procedures at the end of the transition period: Guidance on, what to do if you had goods in customs procedures at the end of the transition period, has been updated, with information about moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. For information, click here.
Get a goods movement reference: Guidance on using this service to get a reference, after registering with the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, has been updated with new information on declaring goods orally or by conduct. For information, click here.
Moving goods through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel using common transit: Guidance on finding alternative offices or destination or departure, when moving goods under Common Transit Convention has been updated, with a changed address for Sevington inland border facility for satellite navigation purposes. For details, click here.
Return your rejected exports from the EU: Guidance on the rules you must follow for returning rejected exports to Great Britain has been updated to include links to post Brexit transition guidance. For more information, click here.
Business matters
EU business: data protection and copyright: Guidance on what EU businesses need to do with data protection, intellectual property and copyright in the UK, has been updated with the latest information on transferring personal data to the UK. For more information, click here.
Ecommerce directive: The eCommerce Directive no longer applies to the UK, now that the transition period is over. Rules relating to online activities in European Economic Area (EEA) countries, may newly apply to UK online service providers who operate in the EEA, now that the transition period is over. If you are a provider of online services, you should take steps in response to these changes. Guidance, outlining what has changed and what checks you need to make, has been issued. For more information, click here.
Government launches Brexit support helplines
Published 14th January
There are new rules for businesses doing business with the EU. To help you, a helpline has been set up. For English businesses, the Business Support Helpline can help you identify the actions you need to take. Similar helplines are available for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
For more information for:
businesses in England, call 0800 998 1098
businesses in Scotland, call 0300 303 0660
businesses in Wales, call 0300 060 3000
businesses in Northern Ireland, call 0800 181 4422.
For more information, including opening hours, click here.
Further details on all above and other matters arising from Brexit are available here.
Trusted Trader Scheme grace period
Published 14th January
The European Union and the UK have agreed a trusted trader scheme that would mean exemptions from tariffs for up to 98% of goods flowing between Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1 January.
The Scheme will benefit from a grace period until 1 April 2021 from official certification requirements on products of animal origin, composite products, food and feed of non animal origin and plants and plant products.
Expedited Return Scheme
Published 14th January
A consultation has been launched on the amendment to the Kent traffic regulations
Expedited Return Scheme (ERS)
Prioritised Goods Scheme
The eligibility criteria in the consultation document currently states the scheme will be open to the major retailers that supply around 95% of the UK food market.
Permits will be allocated in proportion to the retailer's current market share of the UK food sector and will not exceed a total of 300 per day.
Brexit checker
Published 4th January
Doing business with Europe has changed. You need to follow new rules on exports, imports, tariffs, data and hiring. New rules apply to things like travel and doing business with Europe. Use the Brexit checker to get a personalised list of actions for you, your business and your family.
A UK-EU deal has been agreed between Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen. Parliament will now be recalled from its Christmas break to debate and vote on whether to implement the deal on 30th December, while the proposal will be put to the European Council and Parliament.
Boris Johnson MP has said via a press conference that this ‘Canada-style' free trade agreement will protect jobs and allow transactions without tariffs or quotas. The UK will leave the customs union, single market and jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
A press conference with Ursula Von der Leyen and Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier highlighted that EU rules and standards will be respected and independent arbitration will determine whether tariffs and other measures can be applied if fair competition is distorted by relevant regulations by either the EU or the UK. The EU and UK will continue to cooperate on international issues, including climate change, energy and transport. There will be a review after four years to ensure compliance with the deal.
This deal would take effect after the end of the transition period on 31st December and prevent both the UK and EU imposing widespread import taxes on each other's goods by defaulting to World Trade Organisation rules.
Business Services
The Agreement includes provisions to support trade in services (including financial services and legal services). This will provide many UK service suppliers with legal guarantees that they will not face barriers to trade when selling into the EU and will support the mobility of UK professionals who will continue to do business across the EU.
Digital Trade
These provisions will promote trade in digital services and facilitate new forms of trade in goods and services. The provision helps to facilitate the cross-border flow of data by prohibiting requirements to store or process data in a certain location. This prevents the imposition of costly requirements for British businesses.
Electric cars
UK manufacturers will eventually face tariffs when exporting electric cars to the EU unless more than 45 per cent of the components used come from European countries. There will be a six-year transition period before the rules come into force.
Motor Vehicles
The Annex confirms that both the UK and the EU will mutually recognise approvals based on UN regulations. It establishes dedicated cooperation mechanisms to address regulatory barriers and provides for information exchange to support activities including market surveillance.
Moving Goods
The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed 100% tariff liberalisation. This means that there will be no tariffs or quotas on the movement of goods between the UK and the EU, where goods meet the relevant Rules of Origin.
Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications
The Agreement clarifies that the provisions on professional qualifications are without prejudice to alternative arrangements that the UK may agree with the EU, allowing for improved mechanisms to be agreed in future. Agreements will be negotiated on a profession-by-profession basis.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period is not a specific matter for the Brexit deal and the country will be able to choose what happens after 2024 through a vote in the Northern Irish Assembly on the Protocol negotiated by Michael Gove.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
The Agreement includes commitments to provide SMEs with clear and accessible online information about the Agreement, helping them to trade and do business in the UK and the EU. This covers customs procedures, intellectual property rights, and public procurement. The Agreement commits the UK and the EU to provide for a searchable online database, on measures such as customs duties, taxes and rules of origin.
Trade
A key element of the trade deal is that it does not include any tariffs on exports to the EU.
Negotiators agreed automatic tariff-free access to the EU's single market, and a zero-quota agreement means there is no limit on the quantity of any type of goods that can be traded.
EU Negotiations Update
Published 22nd December
The
EU and UK have failed to reach a breakthrough in their negotiations
meaning they have missed the latest European parliament's deadline.
Agreements surrounding fisheries and level playing field remain areas of
contention. The talks are expected to continue but the European
Parliament previously said talks needed to have ended on 20th December
for it to ratify a deal by 31st December. However, sources suggest that
in the event that a deal is reached with the EU, Parliament will be
recalled on 30th December to ratify it before the end of the transition
period at midnight the following day.
N.I Protocol Command Paper Update
Published 11th December
Following the Chancellor of Dutchy of Lancaster's' Withdrawal Agreement update earlier this week, the Government has published a Command Paper on the Northern Ireland Protocol which provides further information on movement of goods into, out of and through Northern Ireland.
Government Officials have indicated they will share more information in the coming days subject to further discussions in the joint committee.
Withdrawal Agreement Update
Published 9th December
The Chancellor Dutchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, has updated the House of Commons on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol as part of the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union. The full oral statement is available here. Mr Gove confirmed that Northern Ireland businesses selling to consumers or using goods in Northern Ireland will be free of all tariffs. There will be no additional requirements placed on Northern Ireland businesses for these movements.
Speaking about the flow of goods Mr Gove said: "This deal will keep goods flowing between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in January, and the Government will provide some necessary additional flexibilities where necessary. This means that Northern Ireland supermarket supplies are protected. The Government has recognised that traders need time to adapt their systems and are therefore granting a grace period for supermarkets to update their procedures."
In the questions following Mr Gove's statement, Andrew Murrison MP for South West Wilshire, raised concerns to the Government surrounding how small shops and street traders are currently left in a level of uncertainty compared to larger businesses and supermarkets. He then asked, to what extent does the trusted trader scheme extend to small operators? Mr Gove responded, saying that more detail is expected shortly once discussions by the joint committee have concluded on how best to represent SMEs interests within the scheme and that we should take advantage of the current grace period we have. The withdrawal agreement will be approved officially at a Joint Committee meeting in the coming days.
EU Exit Deal Developments
Published 8th December
The Prime Minister is expected to return to Brussels in the next few days to discuss three critical issues that are currently stunting the progress and a deal has been reached on UK/Northern Ireland border checks. The three issues surround fisheries, governance and state aid rules to ensure a level playing field.
The PM spoke with European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen on Monday and a joint statement followed confirming the remaining differences should be discussed in person in Brussels early this week to have hope of securing a deal. If a deal is not reached and ratified by 31st December, the UK will automatically fall back on the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO rules would mean that other countries can apply tariffs (taxes on imports of goods) and quotas (limits on the number of goods) if a deal is not reached. It has been speculated today that the UK and EU have reached agreement on how relations with Northern Ireland will operate after the transition. The Government have also said it will withdraw the controversial clauses in the Internal Markets Bill in light of this development. Michael Gove is expected to provide a Withdrawal Agreement in Parliament tomorrow (09.12.20).
EU Exit Updates - November
UK-EU Deal Progress
Published 24th November
Despite progress being made, negotiations have currently been paused due to several members of the core negotiations team testing positive for Covid-19. Negotiations are expected to continue via video link on Friday and over the weekend, whilst the UK and EU both work out when in-person discussions will be able to resume. The President of the EU Commission has however confirmed that progress has been made in important areas for post EU-Exit trade. This includes progress on state aid rules limiting government subsidies for industry. The three main areas of current discussion surround; fishing rights, competition rules and how a deal would be enforced. It is now expected that if a final deal is reached, it will be announced in the coming week subject to being able to meet in person.
EU-Exit Readiness Briefing Published
Published 11th November
IRC member ACS has now updated its EU Exit Readiness briefing to prepare for the end of the transition period on 31st December 2020. The briefing aims to
help retailers understand how their businesses and the supply chain may be affected when
the UK leaves the EU. The briefing involves three core themes with suggested
considerations for retailers to make; trading environment, workforce & people and
regulations. It also explains the latest developments and Government thinking surrounding
the end of the transition, including the Governments’ reasonable worst-case scenario and
guidance on how labelling of products sold in store is expected to change. ACS has
consulted closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and
other relevant government departments to produce the briefing.
Trade talks have resumed between the UK and EU in London. The main points of discussion surround competition issues and fisheries. The Prime Minister has said that the ‘outlines' of an agreement are there and there is a ‘deal to be done'. It is understood that if no agreement is reached by the end of the transition period, trade between the UK and EU will default to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules - with tariffs set to be introduced on many imports and exports, this is expected to increase costs to businesses and consumers.
EU Exit Updates - September/ October
Trade Talks Extended
Published 27th October
The chief negotiators for the UK and EU have resumed post-Brexit trade talks. Michel Barnier arrived in the UK on Thursday and will remain in London until Wednesday, before talks continue in Brussels from Thursday until the end of the month. This follows the Prime Minister stalling talks after stating the EU needed to fundamentally change its position. Both the UK and EU are thought to be working on legal texts for a deal, but issues of disagreement remain on state aid competition rules and fishing quotas. The transition period is due to end on 31 December. If a deal is not reached, the UK would then trade with the EU on World Trade Organisation rules from 1 January 2021.
The UK is leaving the EU single market and customs union, and the end of the transition period will affect citizens, businesses, as well as travel to and from the EU.
Watch the video to find out what 2021 will mean for you.
Get the complete list of what you need to do for you, your business and your family.
Government EU-Exit Preparation Webinars
Published 14th October
The Government is urging businesses to actively prepare for the end of the transition
period and is running a series of webinars which members can attend. A retail
specific webinar will take place on Wednesday 14 October at 11am and you can
register for it here. Run by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,
the webinar will provide information on the actions your business should take to prepare for
the new rules coming into effect from January 2021 including; checking goods compliance,
tariffs, trading with countries outside the EU and hiring staff from outside the UK. Businesses
can also familiarise themselves with the actions they will need to take, by visiting
gov.uk/transition and using the checker tool.
Updated Border Operating Model Published
Published 14th October
The updated Border Operating Model (BOM has been published following its first
release in July. The BOM aims to provide clarity and certainty for businesses ahead of
the end of the transition period. It also details information on how the GB-EU border will
work, being an essential part of preparations that need to be carried out by businesses
operating in a post-EU environment. The key additions and changes include; further detail
on delayed customs declarations and the requirements of Entry in Declarants Records
(EIDR), further details on the checks applying to goods and how freight will be checked
before crossing the border. The BOM will be a live document going forward and will be
updated by the Government when developments occur.
Reasonable Worst-Case Scenario Planning
Published 1st October
The Chancellor of the Duchy Lancaster made a statement in the House of Commons outlining the reasonable worst-case scenario (RWCS) of EU-Exit. The RWCS works onan estimate that 20-40% of small- and medium-sized businesses, would be ready for the strict application of new EU requirements at the end of the transition. The scenario predicts only between 30-60% of HGV's arriving at the border will be prepared to comply with new formalities and there could be a reduction of 60-80% of short straight crossings; causing significant disruptions to trade and the flow of goods. The Governments Border Operating Model seeks to curb these predicted potential difficulties along with large investment in new infrastructures and technologies. The Government is urging businesses of all sizes, who trade with Europe, to familiarise themselves with new customs procedures, highlighting HMRC as a valuable business support.
Round 9 of the EU-UK future relationship negotiations are taking place this week led by Michael Gove. On Monday, Gove met with the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic who said the UK's negotiating position is still "far apart from what the EU can accept". The formal trade talks resume today (Tuesday 29 September), and discussion of the UK government's Internal Market Bill, which would override agreements made on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is expected to be central to this round of talks.
UK Internal Market Bill
Published 15th September
The UK Internal Market Bill is passing through Parliament this week. The Bill includes a section on the movement and presentation of goods after the transition period ends. The bill essentially aims to ensure that goods sold in one part of the UK can be sold in another after 31 December 2020 through the implementation of two key principles for goods: mutual recognition and non-discrimination. The Bill details how goods should be labelled, named and described on the packaging as well as any changes to the production. It also legislates that devolved administrations cannot introduce legislation which puts goods directly at a disadvantage (for example, makes it more difficult or less attractive to buy or sell goods) with other goods from another part of the UK. The Bill provides little detail about the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
EU-Exit: Scotland
Published 1st September
The Scottish Government re-asserted the belief that the best future for Scotland is to be an independent country and member of the European Union. Scotland will take forward the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill to replace powers we will lose at the end of the transition period. The Scottish Government also highlighted the grounds for a second independence referendum by the end of this Parliament and has committed to publishing a draft bill for an independence referendum within the next term of Parliament.
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