Office for Life Sciences EU Exit Bulletin

Get Ready for Brexit campaign:

The government has launched a ‘Get Ready for Brexit’ public information campaign which sets out what the public and businesses might need to do to get ready to leave the EU on 31
October.

Visit: www.gov.uk/brexit

Business Readiness Roadshow

The government is delivering a series of ‘One HMG’ interactive events, running until mid-
October. There will be 30 events across the UK, talking face-to-face with businesses, and
ensuring that they are preparing for Brexit. Sign-up here.

Next week’s events will be in: Sheffield (23 September), Leicester (24 September), Perth
(24 September), Glasgow (25 September) and Birmingham (27 September).

Brexit Readiness Fund

BEIS have announced a £10m Business Readiness Fund (BRF) for business organisations
and trade associations to support businesses to prepare for a ‘No Deal’ Brexit. The deadline
for applications is 30 September 2019.

The BRF will support activities such as events, training and the production of advice packs.
Minimum grants are £25k and activities must be open to both members and non-members,
and large and small businesses (individual businesses cannot apply).

Visit: https://www.gov.uk/brexit-business-grants

Brexit Business Readiness Forum

These forums are held weekly and aimed at trade associations and business intermediaries.
For details on how to register to attend or subscribe to the bulletin, email sed@beis.gov.uk.

Regulations (Medicines)

Updated guidance on MHRA submissions in a no deal can be found here.

More detail on the regulation of medicines in a no deal is available here.

Regulations (Medical devices)

Updated guidance on the creation of a new UK Responsible Person within the existing
regulating medical devices in the event of a no deal guidance can be found here.

Current guidance, including all other aspects of regulating devices in no deal can be found
here.

Please continue to sign up for email updates here.

Workforce

Home Office announced expansion of the shortage of occupation list to include a range of
skilled occupations, following changes to the Immigration Rules. Details of this can be found
here: Shortage of occupation list.

On the 12th Sep, the UK government announced a new two-year post-study work visa,
expanding opportunities for talented international students to build successful careers in the
UK.

Home Office have provided details on the transitional immigration arrangements for EU
citizens arriving in the UK after Brexit if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Guidance to
reflect change in policy can be found here: EU immigration after free movement ends if
there's no deal

Home Office have provided guidance on the immigration arrangements for EU, EEA and
Swiss citizens and their family members who move to the UK after Brexit if the UK leaves
the EU without a deal. Latest guidance: Moving to the UK after Brexit: EU citizens and their
families

Home Office have provided guidance for employers on carrying out right to work checks on
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members in the UK after Brexit. Right to work
checks on EU citizens if the UK leaves the EU without a deal

The PM has announced a new fast-track immigration route aimed at enabling a wider pool of
scientific talent to come to the UK. The route will be uncapped, ensuring that those with the
required skills-set would be able to secure places.

The new scheme will provide eligible people with a three-year visa. At the end of three
years, those on the scheme would be able apply for settled status.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) have now published their call for evidence for
the salary threshold and points-based system (PBS) commission. The call for evidence will
close on 5 November 2019, and the MAC are expected to report their findings in January
2020. Full details, and information on how to submit a response, are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/salary-threshold-and-points-based-system-pbscommission-
call-for-evidence

Continuity of Supply:

DHSC, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations (DAs), has been working with trade
bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans
that should ensure continuation of the supply of medical products to the whole of the UK and
its Crown Dependencies in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit.

Medical products within scope of this planning include:

• medicines (prescription-only, pharmacy, general sales list and unlicensed
medicines);
• medical devices and clinical consumables;
• supplies for clinical trials and clinical investigations;
• vaccines and countermeasures; and
• blood, tissue and transplant materials.

DHSC will implement a multi-layered approach to minimise any supply disruption in a ‘no
deal’ exit scenario. The letter sent to industry by Steve Oldfield, Chief Commercial Officer,
DHSC outlining the approach is attached. This was shared with key stakeholders across
NHS, social care and patient groups.

Securing Freight:

Dedicated Health Channel

DHSC is procuring an ‘express freight service’, aimed at securing transport of small medical
supply consignment into the UK within the 24 hours if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The purpose of this procurement is to support the uninterrupted supply of medicines and
medical produces where there is an urgent need to where supplier’s own logistics plans are
disrupted. The invitation to tender was published on 18 June. These are on track; more
information will be provided shortly.

X-Government freight capacity

The Department for Transport is putting in place a freight capacity framework that will
provide DHSC, as well as other Departments, with the ability to secure freight capacity for
critical supply chains as required. These are on track; more information will be provided
shortly.

Trader readiness

In a no deal scenario, the UK will trade with the EU as a most-favoured-nation under WTO
terms. Businesses should consider what changes this might mean for how they trade with
the EU and what impact it may have on their supply chains.

HMRC has published advice for businesses trading with the EU here.

Updated HMRC information videos for traders in a no-deal Brexit can be found here

Updated guidance on UK trade agreements with non-EU countries in a no-deal Brexit can
be found here.

HMRC have produced the attached decision trees for traders.

• How to export goods into the EU through roll on roll off (RORO) locations after Brexit.
• How to import goods from the EU into the UK through roll on roll off (RORO)
locations after Brexit.

New cross-Government telephone helpline

The helpline was launched this week, specifically for UK traders and hauliers exporting to
and importing from the EU. The helpline will provide up-to-date signposting and guidance on
arrangements for goods crossing the UK / EU border after Brexit, through a single point of
enquiry. The helpline will cover issues such as:

• Requirements of the trader (e.g. customs declarations, export health certificates,
controlled goods licenses/permits).
• Requirements of the haulier (e.g. trailer registrations, international driving permits).
• Other pre-requisites to trade (e.g. Economic Operator Registration and Identification
(EORI) number).
• Import easements (e.g. Transitional Simplified Procedures).

The helpline launched on Monday 16 September and lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to
Friday. The number to call is 0300 3301 331.

Details can be found https://www.gov.uk/contact-brexit-import-export-helpline

HMRC series of webinars

HMRC are hosting webinars to provide an overview for UK businesses involved in the
movement of goods between the EU and the UK. Details can be found here.

DIT “Get Ready for Brexit” workshops

DIT are running over 100 additional “Get Ready for Brexit” Workshops to help businesses
(primarily existing exporters to the EU) to develop a personalised Brexit Readiness Action
Plan. The events are a mix of DIT led Workshops, Webinars, and participation by DIT with a
“Brexit package” in events already being run by partners.

The events will cover issues such as:
• paperwork needed to continue exporting
• impact to supply chains
• changes to regulations and contracts
• where to find tariff information, commodity codes and duty rates
• what you might need to speak to customers and employees about
• moving goods across borders
• business travel to the EU
• providing services to EU clients
• how to treat personal data

For more details and to book visit:
https://www.events.great.gov.uk/ehome/index.php?eventid=200194661&

UK Government Border Delivery Group advice for EU businesses trading with or via
the UK

If you are an EU based business trading goods to or via the UK, please sign up to a webinar
led by the UK Government Border Delivery Group to receive guidance and information on
the steps you may need to take before 31 October. Presentations will include information on
border preparedness and customs procedures at the border.

Please register for the webinars here.

Useful Links

• Brexit provides a central hub of resources
• Life Sciences landing page collating guidance for preparing for a no deal EU Exit.
• You can sign up to email alerts about EU Exit on GOV.UK at this link.
• EU citizens and other interested stakeholders can 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.
• Online Triage Tool to Help Businesses Prepare for the UK Leaving the EU.
• As guidance is updated frequently, HMRC recommend you check regularly on
gov.uk/euexit .
• NHS patient messaging on getting medicines in a no deal scenario.
• NHE England’s website page regarding continuity of supply of medical products.