Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 30 November 2020
OLS Introduction The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is a joint unit between the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This bulletin aims to keep the life sciences sector up to date on the latest guidance as we approach the end of the Transition Period and during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, providing you with information from Government to help your members and networks prepare. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please email Sonia.Davies@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk
News NEW – The Prime Minister gave a statement to the House of Commons on Monday 23 November 2020 outlining the Government’s winter Covid-19 plan. The PM's statement can be found here, and the Winter Plan summary is here. The full list of local restriction tiers by area from Wednesday 2 December 2020 is available here. NEW – On 25 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the spending review. The government will provide billions of pounds in the fight against coronavirus and invest in the UK’s recovery. To view the chancellor’s speech, click here, and for further details on the spending review, click here.
Transition Guidance NEW – The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, has written to specific business sectors. The letters provide tailored advice about key actions that businesses must take after the Transition period ends on 31 December 2020. Please find the life sciences letter here. NEW – Guidance has issued outlining how online market places and those who sell directly to customers in Great Britain from 1 January 2021 will deal with VAT on goods from overseas goods. NEW – Guidance has been published for businesses on specific product safety and metrology regulations, including for PPE. Please find more information here.
NEW – The Haulier Handbook has been published as a one-stop-shop for key information on how to prepare vehicles and the goods they carry to continue to travel smoothy across the border and help minimise disruption. To access, click here. NEW – Information has been published on import and export licence security from 1 January 2021. Click here for more information. NEW – Guidance has been issued that sets out how protection of trading interests (also known as the retained blocking regulation) will work in the UK from 1 January 2021. For more information, click here. NEW – To support businesses and industry to get ready for the end of the transition period, the EU Transition Trader and Industry Forum has been launched. This is designed so that you can ask questions about preparations you need to make now for the new rules to EU trade which will apply from 1 January 2021. To access this, click here. UPDATED – Guidance about Intellectual Property from 1 January 2021 has been updated to reflect changes to UK Address for Service. For more information, click here. UPDATED – In order to ensure the flow of medical supplies into the UK after 31 December 2020, the government has issued a list of contacts that businesses can use to keep medical products flowing into the UK from 1 January 2021. To view this information, click here. NEW – MHRA have published guidance on Written Confirmations for export to EEA and Northern Ireland of Active Substances manufactured in Great Britain. Please find ore information here. UPDATED – MHRA have updated the guidance on qualified person responsible for pharmacovigilance (QPPV) including pharmacovigilance system master files (PSMF) from 1 January 2021. Please find more information here.
Events Government departments are hosting a series of free webinars to help businesses understand the support available. Keep up to date with all the latest available webinars here, watch past HMRC videos here and find videos to help you learn more about trading with the EU from 1 January here. Various dates – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Various dates – Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and flexible furloughing webinar. Register here. Various dates – Register for free webinars to learn more about what you need to do to export animals, fish and high-risk foods not of animal origin from 1 January 2021. Various dates – HMRC Completing customs import declaration, please register here.
Thursday 3 December - DIT webinars aimed at UK based businesses importing and exporting goods. To register click here. Thursday 3 December - The Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (French customs) are hosting a webinar in English on the smart border, the French Customs IT solution to keep trade flowing between the UK and France despite the establishment of customs clearance at the border. To register, click here.
Workforce
NEW – The Home Office has created a podcast episode in partnership with Intelligence Squared to help you prepare for the points-based immigration system. Listen now to Business and the Future of Immigration in 2021. Also available on Spotify and Apple. UPDATED – Guidance on the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme has been updated with information for the third grant. Find out if you can use this scheme to claim a grant here. Find out how HMRC will work out your trading profits and non-trading income if you are selfemployed or a member of a partnership and have been impacted by coronavirus here, and find examples of how your circumstances can affect your eligibility for the scheme here.
Business Support UPDATED – You can pay now or get ready to opt into the VAT deferral new payment scheme. Check how you can pay your deferred VAT. The online opt in process will be available in early 2021. NEW – MHRA have published Advice for developers of COVID-19 vaccines here. UPDATED – MHRA have updated guidance on how tests and testing kits for COVID-19 work. Please find more information here. UPDATED – MHRA have updated guidance on medical devices given exception use authorisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please find more information here.
Useful Links • • • • • •
Gov.uk/transition provides a central hub of resources for the transition period You can sign up to email alerts about the transition period on GOV.UK at this link. Sign up for Home Office email updates about developments on the status of EU citizens in the UK after we leave the EU and the next steps for EU citizens in the UK at this link. Access the ‘Check How to Export Goods’ tool here for the information you need to export goods out of the UK market. Click here for more information and advice on exporting. Click here for updated information on the Covid-19 response from the Department for Health and Social Care and Public Health England.
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Click here for a list of Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations you can speak with to get advice. Specific information for businesses and employers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales is available. In England, Growth Hubs can advise on local and UK Government business support. COVID 19 key contact details: o General offers of help from industry: gcfcovid19enquiries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, or visit this webpage. o Share the impact COVID-19 is having on your organisation with intel@beis.gov.uk o To provide feedback on MHRA engagement please contact engagement@mhra.gov.uk o To call the Business Support Helpline in England please dial FREEPHONE 0800 998 1098, Scotland 0300 303 0660, Business Wales 0330 060 300 and Invest Northern Ireland 0800 181 4422