Civil service evidence given to MPs (select committee) yesterday expresses growing confidence that — contrary to recent predictions from industry groups — preparations would be completed on time for the new UK-EU trade border that will come into force on January 1, including computer systems, lorry parks, customs agents and vets required to complete export declarations to the EU.
The link is here.
Alex Chisholm, the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office said that “huge advances” had been made in preparations since research was conducted for a damning National Audit Office report published earlier this month which predicted the UK was likely to face “widespread disruption”.
The sole Red designation is “Trader Readiness”, particularly amongst small traders.
Nonetheless, Export Health Certificates are an acknowledged cost, for GB to NI agrifood movement, and some items (bans) remain “in conversation with the EU”, as does “At Risk” tariff bearing goods, for those movements.
Chemicals firms trading in the GB market also face costs with reregistration in UK REACH, and further time (up to 6 yrs for small tonnages) is being given by government for data extract from EU database (see the Chemicals section of the Brexit Guidance List in subscriber’s EHS Legislation Registers & Checklists).
We (at Cardinal Environment Limited) have now commenced populating the new EHS Legislation Registers & Checklists that will go live on 1st January 2021. A further update will be in the November Email Alert.
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