Prepare your jewellery business for EU Exit (part 1)
10 Dec 2020
As a nation, we get closer and closer to leaving the EU on the 1st of January, but with a final decision on a withdrawal agreement still outstanding, what can Jewellery businesses do to prepare now?
Working with the British Jewellery and Giftware International team at the British Allied Trades Federation, the NAJ has put together a post transition update (part one), linking to the most appropriate resources for your attention.
For the most up to date advice, always visit EU Exit hub.
NAJ's EU Exit Briefings
Exporting to the EU
If you are planning to export to the EU from 1st January 2020 you must take these steps now, to ensure your business is ready for 1st January:
- Decide how you want to make customs declarations and whether you need to get someone to deal with customs for you. You risk not being able to import or export goods if you do not get your business ready.
Get someone to deal with customs for you
Download a personalised action plan
Importing from the EU
If you are planning to import from the EU from 1st January 2020 you must take these steps now, to ensure your business is ready for 1st January:
- Decide how you want to make customs declarations and whether you need to get someone to deal with customs for you. You risk not being able to import or export goods if you do not get your business ready.
Get someone to deal with customs for you
UK tariffs from 1 January 2021
Download a personalised action plan
Hallmarking, VAT and other regulations
Recognition of Hallmarks
The British Hallmarking Council has updated its guidance on hallmarking requirements from 1 January 2021 following Government advice.
Obligations to recognise equivalent EU hallmarks will end in Great Britain. For the Northern Ireland market, EU hallmarks will continue to be recognised, by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act.
Any product already on the market before January 2021 will be legal, under the same legislation. The question of the length of time this will be effective has not yet been determined. It may be good practice to maintain records demonstrating that items being sold were on the market prior to 1 January 2021.
Any new stock entering the Great Britain market will require a UK national hallmark or an International Convention hallmark.
Any new stock exported to EU member states will require a mark recognised by those countries.
The BHC has stated it will share further updates on developments as they become available.
VAT
Zero rated VAT can be applied to most goods being exported outside of the UK. Further guidance.
Claim VAT refunds from EU countries from 1 January 2021: claiming VAT refunds from EU member states from 1 January 2021. The date you can amend and view refund claims has been updated.
Claim refunds of UK VAT from 1 January 2021 if you're an EU business: The date you can claim back VAT charged on or after 1 January 2021 has been updated.
Regulations
Meeting climate change requirements from 1 January 2021: the European Commission has confirmed that UK-accredited verifiers are able to verify 2020 emissions for UK operators only, but not EU operators.
If you buy chemicals from the EU, you will need to register on the new UK REACH system. It usually takes up to 6 weeks. You risk not being able to bring chemicals into the UK if you do not register.
How to comply with REACH chemical regulations
Using the UKCA mark from 1st January
Protection of trading interests (retained blocking regulations) from 1 January 2021: This guidance sets out how protection of trading interests (also known as retained blocking regulations) will work in the UK from 1 January 2021.
Continuing to Trade
Trading with the EU
Help and support if your business trades with the EU: Includes link to the EU Transition Trader and Industry Online Forum launched by the Border and Protocol Delivery Group. The Forums, categorised by subject, allow you to ask questions about the preparations you need to make. You will need to register to access the forums.
Check what you need to do to export to the EU from 1 January 2021 You risk not being able to send or take goods to EU countries from 1 January 2021.
Check what you need to do to import from the EU from 1 January 2021 You risk not being able to bring or receive goods from EU countries from 1 January 2021.
Trading with non-EU countries
Existing UK trade agreements with non-EU countries
Licenses and certificates
Notice 32/20 – Information on Licence Security from 1 January 2021. this notice provides information on import and export licence security from 1 January 2021
Changes to copyright law from 1 January 2021 You risk breaking copyright rules if you do not have the right permissions.
Changes to EU and international designs and trade mark protection from 1 January 2021
E-commerce
The eCommerce Directive after the transition period
Duties and customs
Duty rates into the EU (NB The UK will not be listed until 1st January). In the meantime, use another country which has no FTA deal with the EU. Examples would be the USA, Australia or Somalia)
Get ready to move goods between or through common transit countries including the EU
Register for a quicker way to move your goods to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
Moving goods between or through common transit countries including the EU
Check duties and customs procedures for exporting goods
Customs agents and fast parcel operators
NI Protocol
Moving goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol
Funding, Resources and more information
Funding available
Ports across England to receive £10 million to support Brexit transition: Councils across England will receive a share of £10 million to support their preparations for the end of the transition period.
Customs Grant Scheme: companies completing their own customs declarations may be eligible for funding for recruitment, employee training and IT in preparation for additional customs declarations.
Resources and webinars
Transition period letters from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, to businesses and sub-sectors about actions they need to take from 1 January 2021:
Transition period: letter to businesses
Transition period: letter to the consumer goods sector
Transition period: letter to the retail sector
Transition period: letter to the chemicals sector
Webinars on preparing your business for the end of the transition period - Register and watch the sector-specific webinars - about how to prepare your business for new rules from 1 January 2021.
DIT recorded webinars, including on ‘E-commerce trading now UK has left the EU & 2021 ‘VAT e-commerce package.’
Download ecommerce trading webinar
British Chambers of Commerce are running a series of virtual events/webinars, many are free to attend, to assist businesses exporting post transition. Find your local Chamber of Commerce to see what support is available to you.
Intellectual property after 1 January 2021: Key information for customers and users of IP about how the IP system and the Intellectual Property Office will operate after the end of the transition period.
Personal data management and protection from 1 January 2021
Will you be using personal data in your business or other organisation after the transition period?
Crucial information on managing personal data flows, with further information on data protection for organisations is available to view aswell as guidance specifically for SMEs and a useful interactive tool for EEA-UK data flows.
Source: BATF International