BDG - February Updates - 26/02/2019

Unaccompanied goods under the Common Transit Convention We are aware of your concerns and are discussing the issue with other contracting parties to the CTC to ensure that the UK complies with the convention. We understand the urgency and will respond to you as soon as we have a definitive answer. GOV.UK page: help and support for traders if the UK leaves the EU with no deal There is a new page on GOV.UK with help and support for traders if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. This page hosts videos on:

• Importing goods
• Exporting goods
• Changes at the UK border for businesses
• Changes at the UK border for intermediaries

These videos have previously been circulated via YouTube links, but are now also available on GOV.UK. Further GOV.UK pages will be available soon to host additional videos and communications products. Please share this link and these videos with your stakeholders and customers to help them prepare for EU Exit. Sector factsheets to prepare for EU Exit If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there may be changes that affect your business. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have published additional sector factsheets, to help you prepare for a no deal EU Exit. They bring together the top issues for each sector and provide overview guidance. There are new factsheets available for: Space Gas markets Other sector factsheets that are available are: Aerospace Automotive Chemicals Construction Consumer goods Electricity Electronics, machinery and parts sector Oil and gas production Professional and business services sector Retail Science, research and innovation sector Please forward these links to your stakeholders that work in these industries to help them prepare for a no deal EU Exit. New guidance for the import and export of animals and animal products New guidance has been published to ensure import and export trade in animals, animal products, fish, food and feed can continue in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. This guidance will help to minimise disruption for users and allow the continued movement of goods, while helping to maintain our biosecurity, food safety and high standards of animal welfare. In a no-deal exit the process for exporting and importing these products will change in the following ways:

• Businesses exporting all animals, animal products and fish to the EU will now need to apply for an Export Health Certificate (EHC) before they export. This will make them the same as businesses who export these goods to the rest of the world who already have to apply for EHCs. They will also need to make sure their trade route passes through a Border Inspection Posts when entering Europe as well as being aware of wider customs requirements. The guidance and certificates are available for download ahead of use on exit day.

For those businesses importing to the UK guidance is available here. There will not be any new checks or requirements but importers will need to notify authorities using a new process. Businesses will need to use a new system called the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System’ (IPAFFS). This will help to minimise disruption for users, allow the continued movement of goods and help to maintain our biosecurity and food safety.

• Businesses importing animals and animal products from within the EU will need to use a separate interim system until the summer.

New guidance for farming, food and drink sectors If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 29 March, there will be changes that affect the food and drink sector, and the farming sector. Defra has released new guidance for both these industries, detailing the expected changes and how businesses can best prepare for them. This latest guidance includes detail on importing and exporting goods, food labelling changes, the future of rural payments, and data protection. Please click here for the food and drink sector and here for farming. These pages will be updated as more information becomes available. New guidance for equine owners New guidance for equine owners planning to take their horse, pony or other equine to the EU after 29 March, has been published on GOV.UK. The guidance explains what preparations owners need to make in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. Local authorities with major ports to receive funding boost to help with Brexit preparations The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced £3.14 millionwill be allocated to help nineteen local authorities with a major port prepare for EU Exit. Nineteen district and unitary councils across England will receive £136,362 to the end of April for each major port of entry into the UK in their area. This will allow them to increase their resources to work through the immediate impacts from EU Exit in their local areas such as ensuring their port’s resilience and potential impacts of greater traffic to surrounding counties. The funding is part of the £56.5 million announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government last month to help councils adapt to the changes caused by Brexit, ensuring their local authority is prepared ahead of 29 March, whilst also protecting vital local services. Subscribe to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government EU Exit bulletin The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have started a weekly bulletin – providing an update on recent EU Exit developments and a look ahead at upcoming events across the country relevant for local authorities. To subscribe to the bulletin, get in touch here.