Brexit

The government is continuously updating regulations, policies and advice regarding Brexit. Their website provides lots of up-to-date Brexit information on the GOV.UK website. 

Make sure you and your business is ready for the new rules

To ensure your readiness, use the Government's Transition Check Tool which will advise you of actions you should take.

These are some of the new rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021:

• Travelling to the EU: 

  From 1 January 2021 there are new rules to travel to the EU, or to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

  Check what you need to do to travel to Europe from 2021

• Staying in the UK if you're an EU citizen: 

  Check if you need to apply to the settlement scheme if you or your family are from the EU, or from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

  Check what you need to do to stay in the UK

• Continue living and working in the EU: 

  You may need to register or apply for residency. You should check that you’re covered for healthcare.

  Check what you must do in the country where you live

• Businesses that import and export goods

  From 1 January 2021 the process for importing and exporting goods changed. Find out more about:

• importing goods from the EU
• exporting goods to the EU

NI Direct offers specific advice and information on how Brexit will likely affect Northern Ireland.

Advice includes transport and travel, health and social care, EU citizens, education, agriculture and environment and money and pensions. 

Go to NI Direct

NI Business Info offers support and guidance to businesses.  Their website is continuously updated with latest information and guidance on issues relating to Brexit.

Visit NI Business Info Website

Invest Northern Ireland can provide Brexit help, advice and support for your business.

Invest Northern Ireland have a one-stop resource of best practice guides, information advice and support available to help you with the EU Exit. Key resources are highlighted, you can find more resources here

If you need further information please contact one of our Business Officers or contact the Invest NI Brexit team on 0800 181 4422.

InterTradeIreland's dedicated Brexit team can provide information on funding, details of upcoming events and an online learning tool.

InterTradeIreland Brexit Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland helps companies to prepare for the British exit from the EU through a range of supports and services suited to all businesses; no matter what stage they are at with their Brexit plans.

The Brexit Advisory service offers information and support through voucher funding, a tailor-made on-line learning tool, a tariff checker, glossary of key Brexit terminology, research, networking and information events.

For more information, contact their Brexit team on 028 3083 4100 or visit their website.

The department has put together advice specific to agriculture, fishery, forestry and the environment in relation to Brexit. 

Their advice includes Q&A's, information on fisheries, animal travel, environment and plants. 

Go to DAERA 

If your business deals in food, or animal feed, your responsibility to make sure it is safe will remain a requirement of law from day one of the UK leaving the EU. For most businesses, the current requirements of food and feed law will continue to apply with no or limited changes.

The Food Standards Agency is offering guidance on exporting foods of animal origin and health marks on meat and poultry.

Go to FSA

NI Food Industry – EU transition information

The Government has published EU transition guidance for the food industry in Northern Ireland.  This includes information for Food Competent Certifying Officers (FCCO) and Regulatory Services, and a guide to the new rules for Export Health Certificates from 1 January 2021 which will apply to exports from GB to the EU.  If you are in the NI Food Industry please click on the link below.

More information 

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs have put together information to get Ireland Brexit ready. The Irish government have put in place a number of supports to help businesses of all shapes and sizes, across the economy prepare for Brexit. 

Go To Getting Ireland Ready For Brexit Site

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners offers information on trade facilitation and customs procedures for the UK after Brexit. 

Go To Brexit Information 

HMRC offer various advice on Brexit and how to prepare. There is information on customs procedures for moving goods between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and there is guidance on VAT on goods you move across the border. 

Go To HMRC Guidance

The Institute of Directors have offered a new free Brexit guidance service.

The scheme, which will be open to both members and non-members of the business organisation, will run throughout October featuring webinars and workshops around the north.

Go To Institute of Directors

The Northern Ireland Strategic Migration Partnership (NISMP) works across the spheres of government and between the public, private and third sectors to ensure that Northern Ireland effectively welcomes, supports and integrates new migrants in a way which contributes to economic growth and vibrant, cohesive communities. It provides a regional advisory and consultative function, enabling our partners and other stakeholders to develop an appropriate approach to the management of migration in Northern Ireland. NISMP is hosted by NILGA.

EU Settlement Scheme

A step-by-step guide for EU nationals on the EU Settlement scheme can be found here.

The Home Office has produced toolkits to help equip organisations, public authorities and employers with the necessary information and guidance to support EU citizens and their families on applying to the EU Settlement Scheme. The toolkit for Public Authorities and Community Organisations can be found here and an updated toolkit for employers can be found here. 

Supporting Vulnerable EU nationals through the EUSS

The Stronger Together Network, STEP, Law Centre NI and Children’s Law Centre are working together to support vulnerable EEA nationals living in NI to complete the process of securing settlement under the Home Office’s EU Settlement Scheme. Assistance is available to complete the application and complex cases are referred to Law Centre NI, STEP and, in the case of minors, to the Children’s Law Centre. For further information go to:

https://www.strongertogetherni.org/about-stronger-together/

https://www.stepni.org/

The ICO have a range of resources available to local businesses. These resources are designed to help businesses and organisations keep personal data flowing with Europe after Brexit.

If you only operate within the UK
If you are a UK business or organisation that already complies with the GDPR and has no contacts or customers in the European Economic Area (EEA), you do not need to do much more to prepare for data protection compliance after Brexit.

If you operate in the EU:

If you have an office, branch or other established presence in the EEA, or if you have customers in the EEA, you will need to comply with both UK and EU data protection regulations after Brexit. You may need to designate a representative in the EEA.

If you operate in the UK but transfer data to and from the EEA
If you are a UK business who send or receive data from contacts or customers in the EEA, you may need to take extra steps to ensure that the data can continue to flow after Brexit. 

EU Transition – Data Protection Partnership Pack

The Government has published a Data Protection Partnership Pack in relation to the EU transition.

This guidance is to assist UK businesses or organisations that receive personal data from the EU or EEA to ensure that data can continue to flow lawfully following 1 January 2021. Visit GOV.UK/using-personal-data-2021 and the ICO website for expert advice and practical support to help you put in place the right measures to prepare.  The Data Protection Partnership Pack can be accessed via the link below.

Access Data Protection Partnership Pack

Other Resources:

Guidance for Large Businesses