FOB Chief Executive's Weekly News for 26th July 2021

FDF Business Confidence Survey You are invited you to share your views for our quarterly business confidence survey. The findings play a vital role in ensuring we can share member sentiment with stakeholders, government and the media.

The survey is sent to one representative at each of your businesses, and will close on Monday 2^nd April. I really do appreciate you taking the time to support our work in this area,

HMRC EU Exit Update:

If you move goods between the UK and countries in the EU, you need to follow new customs and tax rules.

Your business will be affected by the new rules if you:

buy goods from an EU seller and bring them into the UK
send goods you’ve sold to a buyer in an EU country
haven’t exchanged money but need to move equipment that you use for your business, between the UK and the EU.

We understand this means a lot of changes are needed and recognise that the trading environment is particularly challenging for many businesses at the moment. That is why HMRC is offering to help you in a number of different ways.

You can attend our webinars to help adjust to the new rules and keep your business moving.

We’re unable to answer questions specific to the items you import or export on the webinars. Instead, you can use the helpline at the end of this email for these questions.

Our webinars explain existing GOV‌‌‌‌‌‌.UK guidance and give you the opportunity to ask general questions. You’ll also be able to see responses to other peoples’ questions and the guidance we signpost to for extra help and support.

Importing – steps you need to take before making your supplementary declaration: To support those who’ve delayed their customs import declarations, we explain the steps you need to take before you can make a supplementary declaration and how intermediaries can help you do this.

Please register to take part if you’ve imported goods since 1 January 2021 and not yet completed a customs declaration for them.

If you’re planning to import and want to understand the full declarations process please register for Customs Import Declarations: an overview.

Exporting: what you need to do to keep your goods moving: An overview of the actions you need to take now before you export goods from Great Britain to the EU and move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Key processes include – zero-rated VAT, customs declarations, using an intermediary as well as licences, certificates, and authorisations.

Please register to take part if you’re planning to export.

Trader responsibilities when using an intermediary: This webinar explains your responsibilities as a trader, if you choose to use an intermediary to complete import or export declarations for your business. These are complex and an intermediary can save you a lot of time.

Please register to take part if you’re planning to import or export.

Rules of Origin: Watch our recorded webinar if you buy goods from the EU, or send or sell goods to the EU for your business, this webinar will help you understand rules of origin and what’s required to meet the rules.

The recorded webinar can be paused or rewound to allow you to work through the information at your own pace.

You can also:

watch our videos on HMRC’s YouTube channel to familiarise yourself with the new customs processes and what you need to do before you trade goods with the EU
use the trader checklist to make sure you’re familiar with the new rules that affect you
use our updated guides to understand the new customs and VAT requirements when moving goods between the UK and EU countries
sign up to the Trader Support Service if your business is moving goods between GB and Northern Ireland and use their suite of educational products – including online training modules and webinars for support with the Northern Ireland Protocol
ask and get answers to specific questions about HMRC processes for importing or exporting, by visiting our customer forums
watch webinars and videos from other government departments to support you
sign up to our weekly email updates on news and information about importing and exporting with the EU, providing hints and tips for businesses like yours, getting used to the new rules for importing and exporting.

HGV driver shortage letter to industry

Government has announced a package of measures to help address the shortage of hauliers. This is set out in a joint letter from the Secretaries of State for Transport; Work and Pensions; and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Further guidance on temporary relaxations to the drivers’ hours rules is available at the link provided below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-exemption-and-temporaryrelaxation-of-drivers-hours-and-working-time-rules/emergency-exemption-andtemporary-relaxation-of-drivers-hours-and-working-time-rules

New FoB Associate Member: The Federation of Bakers (FOB) is delighted to welcome Be-St Holland Products BV as a new associate member.

Be-St Holland Products have over 20 years’ experience in the processing of plastics that come into direct contact with foods. Its Bakery department, Beke Proofer Cups, are one of the leading specialists in the development and manufacturing of standard as well as bespoke prover baskets and pockets for intermediate and first provers. They supply many of the leading bakery and other food brands in Europe and the UK.

FDF warns Government regulation will result in higher food prices
The FDF published its ‘Eating into household budgets: the Government’s recipe for food price inflation’ report which estimates that if the cost of forthcoming Government policies were passed on directly to consumers, it would increase the price of food and drink shopping per household by more than £160 per year.

The FDF has called on the Government to reconsider costly policies including HFSS advertising and promotion restrictions, reforms to extended producer responsibility. We have also called for fundamental reforms to the UK’s regulatory architecture, in order to ensure future policy is effective and well-targeted