Welcome to the latest in a series of business readiness bulletins, aimed at keeping trade associations, business representative bodies and business intermediaries up to date on the latest guidance for business whilst the UK is in an 11-month transition period. This Bulletin aims to provide you and your networks with important information from Government, to help your members and networks prepare for when we exit the transition period.

Written Ministerial Statement on UK negotiations with the European Union

The Prime Minister has today, Monday 3 February 2020, laid a statement in the House of Commons that sets out the Government’s proposed approach to the negotiations with the EU about our future relationship. Further details on this and other trade negotiations will be made available, as the process develops.

Actions you can take now that do not depend on negotiations

After 31 January 2020 there will be a transition period until the end of 2020, while the UK and EU negotiate a Canada-style free trade agreement. This link provides a list of actions of what you can do now, all transition period information and the opportunity for you to sign up to email alerts about the transition period.

Recent Announcements

NEW – The Competition and Markets Authority has published guidance on its functions under the Withdrawal Agreement. The guidance is intended for businesses and their legal advisors but may also be of interest to other enforcers. UK Exit from the EU: Guidance on the functions of the CMA under the Withdrawal Agreement.

NEW – The UK is introducing a points-based immigration system from 2021. The Home Office has created this page which will be updated with the latest information about the new-points based immigration system. You can also sign up for email alerts. New immigration system: what you need to know.

NEW – The Department for International Trade have published guidance to help you find out which trade agreements with non-EU countries are in place during and after the transition period. UK trade agreements with non-EU countries.

NEW – The Intellectual Property Office has produced information on trademarks, designs, patents, copyright, and exhaustion of IP rights during the transition period. Intellectual property and the transition period.

NEW – The Department for Exiting the European Union produced guidance on International Agreements with third countries during the transition period. International Agreements with Third Countries during the Transition Period.

NEW – The Intellectual Property Office has produced guidance for businesses and organisations holding EU trademarks at the end of the transition period. EU trademark protection and comparable UK trademarks.

NEW – The Intellectual Property Office has produced guidance for business holding registered community designs and international trademarks and designs after the end of the transition period. Changes to EU and international designs and trade mark protection from 1 January 2021.

NEW – The Intellectual Property Office has produced guidance for businesses who have unregistered community designs. Changes to unregistered designs from 1 January 2021

NEW– The Ministry of Justice has produced guidance for legal services business owners on preparing the end of the transition period.  Legal services business owners from 1 January 2021

NEW – The Intellectual Property Office has produced guidance on how protection in the EU for databases produced in the UK will change after the end of the transition period. Sui generis database rights from 1 January 2021.

NEW – The Intellectual Property Office has produced guidance covering the impacts on UK right holders, businesses, cultural heritage institutions and consumers. It is not legal advice. Changes to copyright law from1 January 2021.

NEW– The Intellectual Property Office has produced guidance on actions that parallel exporters to the EEA and intellectual property rights holders will need to take after the transition period. Exhaustion of IP rights and parallel trade from 1 January 2021.

NEW – The Intellectual Property Office has produced guidance on international trademark registrations protected in the EU under the Madrid Protocol will no longer enjoy protection in the UK after the transition period. Changes to international trade mark registrations from 1 January 2021.

NEW – Companies House has produced guidance to help you find out whether your business will need to change its company registration from 1 January 2021, and how to do this. Changing your company registration from 1 January 2021.

Business Intelligence and Engagement Directorate

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy