Get Ready Brexit Checker (UK Brexit)

Exit day is 31st October

This is a better site – I haven’t fully tested it (obviously) but it answered correctly (eventually after many fields) to the GB car sticker aspect

** If you display the Euro symbol and Great Britain (GB) national identifier on your number plate, then you will NOT (my capitals) need a separate GB sticker when travelling within the European Union.

The Euro symbol must:

be a minimum height of 98mm

have a width between 40 and 50mm

have a reflective blue background with 12 reflecting yellow stars at the top

show the member state (GB) in reflecting white or yellow **

Site – here.

EU Fuel VAT reclaim (UK Brexit)

Exit day is 31st October

This Blog does not cover Customs and Excise. The information below comes from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) – here.

UK based International Operators will still be able to claim refunds of VAT on fuel bought in EU member states.

Follow the processes for non-EU countries to do the claim.

EU information is here.

Check with individual EU countries.

Some EU countries may require the appointment of an in-country tax representative to obtain the refunds.

Slew of Brexit Announcements (UK Brexit)

Exit day is 31st October (reminder, this is the date in the relevant Statutory Instrument)

In the past days, HMG (and their agencies) have announced a series of Instructions updates – please examine closely as the changes are not flagged.

(1) importing animals, animal feed etc – here.

(2) GMOs – here.

(3) import of animals, animal feed etc (further) – here.

(4) exporting animals and animal products – here.

(5) exporting active substances (medicines and healthcare) – here.

(6) ECMT international road haulage permits – here.

(7) food labelling changes – here.

(8) packaging and WEEE waste export (aspects) – here.

Plus, HMG now has a Get Ready site – here.

CAUTION with the Get Ready site – it has gaps and simplifications (amounting to errors) – please use more detailed information, and any doubts CHECK with the relevant Ministry or Agency.

Get Ready advertising will commence next week, I understand.

EORI Numbers (UK Brexit)

Exit day is 31st October 2019

Because only some of the traders who import/export goods to/from the EU have registered for their GB EORI number, HMG is auto-enrolling now.

Here

An EU country specific EORI number is also required.

EORI numbers are not required for UK/Ireland trade across the Irish Border.

If a trader does not have the relevant EORI numbers, their goods will not clear borders.

Deposit Return System (DRS) for Bottles and Cans (England & Wales)

Exit day is 31st October 2019

HMG announce today they will bring in a DRS for drinks containers (bottles and cans) in England and Wales via the Environment Bill.

Here

The cost of the deposit would be added to the price of the drinks included in the scheme when they are purchased. This deposit would be redeemed when consumers return their empty drinks containers to a designated return point.

HMG intend the proposed scope and model of the deposit return scheme to be consulted on in 2020, with the scheme to start no later than 2023.

Statement on UK Politics

The Environmental Bill is queued after various Brexit bills. HMG has a majority of only one in Parliament. None of the Brexit bills are announced for Parliament time. 2023 is beyond the date when a General Election would be held under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.

More F-gas Rules (UK Brexit)

Exit day is 31st October 2019

HMG today issued an entire collection of rules for F-gas users.

Much of this is unchanged from Brexit instructions issued earlier. However, I do recommend a detailed look.

Here

F-gases Rules (UK Brexit)

Exit day is 31st October 2019

F-gases are regulated by EU Law.

DEFRA issued today clarifying rules on F-gases.

(1) Recovering, reclaiming and recycling F gas – here.

(2) Recording F gas in equipment you own or service – here.

IF these have an impact on ENV Law Checklists, then the Checklists will be updated, and subscribers to EHS Legislation Registers and Checklists will be notified in the next Email Alert.

Subscribers will note that the Brexit Consolidated Law List (found at the top right of the ENV and OHS Registers home page) has F-gases laws identified as HTML Done (green text) (meaning the changes are now incorporated, and linked from that list).

Low Risk Waste Positions (England)

UPDATE : instructions on Registered Waste Exemptions was updated today (21st August) – here.

The Environment Agency is not currently enforcing the need for an environmental permit in specific cases for some activities.

These low risk waste positions (LRWPs) explain when a waste producer does not need to apply for an environmental permit for those activities.

A number of LRWPs are issued – here.

The online source for Registering Waste Exemptions is here.

EU arrivals after Exit day (UK Brexit)

Exit day is 31st October 2019

(by statutory instrument, not the commencement order recently signed)

The Home Office today confirmed an entirely new system is being developed for EU arrivals after Exit day, and the European Temporary Leave to Remain (announced in January 2019) is not being progressed.

Here.

Although this Blog does not post on immigration, I will post when details of the new system are announced.

Any questions on this should be addressed to the UK Home Office.

National Food Strategy – call for evidence (UK England)

Exit day is 31st October.

Today HMG announced a call for evidence to help build a new National Food Strategy for England. Closing date is 25th October 2019.

On 27 June, Defra’s Secretary of State commissioned Henry Dimbleby to conduct an independent review to help HMG create a new National Food Strategy for England (the last one dates 75 years ago).

The purpose of the review is to address the environmental and health problems caused by the food system, to ensure the security of food supply, and to maximise the benefits of emerging agricultural technology.

The terms of reference for the Review is here.

A separate National Food Strategy onsite site has been created and this is the page on that site about the engagement – here.

The online address of the National Food Strategy site is here.

The Review will be published Summer 2020.

The Call for Evidence Closing Date is 25th October 2019 and see the Programme of Engagement on the National Food Strategy site here.

HMG stated it will publish a summary of responses 12 weeks after the consultation closes.

The Call for Evidence is accessed here (and from the National Food Strategy site).

This is a wide ranging exercise, covering obesity, food security, land management, fishing, animal welfare.

The National Food Strategy will examine activity across several departments of state, and build on the Brexit Agriculture and Fisheries Bills, the Industrial Strategy, the Childhood Obesity Plan and the proposed Environment Bill.

Statement about the UK Political Situation (this Blog does not post about Politics, this Statement is now added to Posts where the political situation could alter the content, timing or otherwise affect, the Post itself).

(1) HMG has a majority of one.

(2) Steps are being discussed by Opposition Parties and some backbenchers to prevent a No Deal, in September.