Brexit
The UK left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020 (commonly known as Brexit). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU have, with effect from 1 January 2021, agreed a trade and cooperation Agreement and there are new rules in place.
There are several specific topics which are of interest to the gases industry, for which BCGA provides links to relevant Government websites. Government guidance is being updated, and BCGA will continue to monitor any changes and share key relevant information with members. Please consult the Government's Transition Period webpage for the latest information, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/transition
Useful Links
Please see below for the most up to date information from Government on various aspects of Brexit, which are of relevance to BCGA members.
Trade
Importing after the transition period- https://www.gov.uk/prepare-to-import-to-great-britain-from-january-2021
Exporting after the transition period- https://www.gov.uk/prepare-to-export-from-great-britain-from-january-2021
Visiting the EU after the transition period- https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021
Doing business in Northern Ireland after the transition period- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/moving-goods-under-the-northern-ireland-protocol
World Trade Organisation tariff data- https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tariffs_e/tariff_data_e.htm
Intellectual Property Rights - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/intellectual-property-after-1-january-2021
Taxation, Customs and Excise
Import, export and customs for businesses- https://www.gov.uk/topic/business-tax/import-export
WTO Tariffs 2020: https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/tariff_profiles20_e.pdf
Regulation of chemicals
The UK is currently establishing its own regulatory system
for REACH. Defra own the regulation itself, with HSE acting as the operator of
the policy and enforcer. Please see below for further information on this and
other chemical regulations:
REACH (HSE guidance)- https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/reach-guidance.htm
REACH (Defra guidance)- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-comply-with-reach-chemical-regulations
REACH (European Chemicals Agency guidance)- https://echa.europa.eu/uk-withdrawal-from-the-eu
CLP-https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/clp.htm
PIC- https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/pic.htm
Biocides- https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/biocides.htm
Fluorinated gas (F gas) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS) Regulations
Equipment and Machinery- https://www.hse.gov.uk/brexit/regulating-equipment.htm
Healthcare
Due to the complexity of the regulation for medical devices and transportable pressure equipment these products will not be subject to the new UK framework, and separate arrangements will apply.
Medical industry guidance- https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mhra-post-transition-period-information
Medical devices- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/regulating-medical-devices-from-1-january-2021
Regulation of medical devices from 1 January 2021 - MHRA Presentation.
Transport
The UK will continue to comply with existing legislation for
the International carriage of dangerous goods. Road transport will comply with
the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment
Regulations [SI 2009 N0. 1348] (as amended). It is expected that the UK
Government will enact amendment Regulations to clarify this policy.
Transporting goods by road: https://www.gov.uk/transport-goods-from-uk-by-road
Vehicle approvals: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vehicle-type-approval-if-theres-no-brexit-deal
Air, sea, road and rail transport from January 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/air-sea-road-and-rail-transport-from-january-2021
Relaxation of EU Drivers Hours: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-relaxation-of-the-enforcement-of-the-eu-drivers-hours-rules-all-road-haulage-sectors-in-great-britain/temporary-relaxation-of-the-enforcement-of-the-eu-drivers-hours-rules-all-road-haulage-sectors-in-great-britain
Equipment
Transportable pressure equipment will comply with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations [SI 2009 N0. 1348] (as amended). It is expected that the UK Government will enact amendment Regulations to clarify this policy.
After 1st January 2021, The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 [SI 2020 No 1111] will come into force. From 1st January 2021 Great Britain will no longer recognise the authority of the European Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED) as GB legislation, however, TPED remains in force across Europe. The changes introduced will affect, for example, the movement of transportable pressure equipment across national boundaries, placing on the market and how and by whom conformity assessment takes place.
To help understand the changes required BCGA has created a set of Frequently Asked Questions.
The UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) mark- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-to-use-the-ukca-mark-after-brexit
Status of conformity assessment bodies- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/conformity-assessment-bodies-change-of-status-from-1-january-2021
UK Accreditation Service and Brexit- https://www.ukas.com/customer-area/ukas-and-brexit/
Placing manufactured goods on the UK market from 1st January 2021- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-great-britain-from-1-january-2021
Placing manufactured goods on the EU market from 1st January 2021- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-eu-market-from-1-january-2021
Manufacture and supply of new equipment - https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/manufacturer-supply-new-work-equipment.htm
Standards
The British Standards Institute (BSI) has advised that its
membership of the International Organizations for Standards ISO and IEC is
unaffected by Brexit. Membership of the European Standards Organizations CEN
and CENELEC will involve a transition period following Brexit to ensure that
BSI can continue its membership of both organizations on a permanent basis.
Standards and EU Exit- https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/uk-national-standards-body/standards-policy-on-the-uk-leaving-the-eu/
FAQs on Brexit and Product Certification- https://www.bsigroup.com/globalassets/localfiles/en-gb/brexit/brexit-product-certification-faqs.pdf
Working and Travel
Visiting the EU after 1st January 2021- https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-brexit
Living in Europe- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-europe
Professional Qualifications and Brexit- https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/slides_professional-qualifications-ip-justice-consumers_en.pdf