Guidance

The construction sector and preparing for Brexit

Your business may need to make changes before the UK leaves the EU.

• From: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 1 February 2019
• Last updated: 14 March 2019 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on 31 January 2020

This page is out of date. It told you how to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.

Get a personalised list of actions and sign up for email updates to find out when guidance is published.

Visit Get ready for Brexit to find more detailed guidance on policy changes relevant to your sector.

Importing and exporting

Preparing for disruption to trade at the UK-EU border

1. Get a UK EORI number (this starts with GB) so you can continue to import or export goods and apply for authorisations that will make customs processes easier for you.

2. Decide if you want to hire an import-export agent, or make the declarations yourself.

3. Contact the organisation that moves your goods (for example, a haulage firm) to find out what information they need to make the declarations for your goods, or if you will need to make them yourself.

Read the guidance on simplified customs procedures for trading with the EU if we leave without a deal.

Further information is provided in HMRC’s advice for businesses trading with the EU.

Preparing to move goods between Ireland and Northern Ireland

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, goods moving between Ireland and Northern Ireland will face different procedures compared to other UK-EU trade. This approach will apply until longer-term arrangements are made.

Read the guidance on customs procedures and VAT for goods moving between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Regulations and standards

Construction Product Regulation

After the UK leaves the EU, businesses can continue to place their goods on the UK market bearing the CE marking for a time-limited period. Government will give businesses plenty of notice as to when this will end.

You will be able to continue placing goods on the EU market if any of the following apply:

• you meet the requirements for self-declaration
• any mandatory third-party conformity assessment was carried out by an EU-recognised notified body
• the certificate and associated files previously held by a UK notified body have been transferred to an EU-recognised notified body

For further information, read Construction Products Regulation if there is no Brexit deal.

Importing or using chemicals

If you use or import chemicals then you will need to check whether you have new obligations under UK REACH (the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation).

For example, if you currently purchase a chemical substance directly from an EU/EEA supplier, you must make sure any substances you purchase are covered by a valid UK REACH registration by someone within your supply chain. Otherwise, in order to remain compliant you will need to register as an ‘importer’. To do so, you must:

• open an account on REACH IT once it is established and provide initial information on your registration within 180 days of the UK leaving the EU
• provide full technical information on your registration within 2 years of the UK leaving the EU.

Read the guidance on regulating chemicals if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and the chemical regulation guidance from HSE.

Ensure you can continue to manufacture and export chemical products

There may also be new actions you need to take if you manufacture or export chemicals. Further information is provided on the HSE website.

Your employees

Employing EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

Right to work checks

You should continue to carry out the same right to work checks on all EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, by using their passport or national identity card, until January 2021.

You will not need to distinguish between EU/EEA and Swiss citizens who were resident in the UK before or after the UK leaves the EU.

Find out how to check an applicant’s right to work and read the guidance on employing EU, EEA and Swiss citizens after Brexit.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK before the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens who are resident in the UK before the UK leaves the EU will be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to get settled or pre-settled status. This will mean they can continue to live, work and study in the UK.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens must apply by 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

You can use the EU Settlement Scheme guidance for employers to give further information to your employees.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens who arrive in the UK after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens arriving in the UK from Exit Day to 31 December 2020 can continue to come to the UK, to live, work and study without applying for a visa in advance.

After free movement ends, if they want to stay for longer than 3 months, they can read the guidance on staying in the UK to find out what they’ll need to do.

Irish citizens can continue to live, work and study in the UK, just as before.

From 1 January 2021, a new skills-based immigration system will launch.

For non-EU nationals, Brexit will not affect the application process for work visas.

Business travel

Check the guidance for travellers visiting the EU to find out what you need to do when going abroad for work.

Trade associations

Construction Products Association

Published 1 February 2019
Last updated 14 March 2019 + show all updates

1. 14 March 2019

   Updated with information for users and importers of chemicals.

2. 1 February 2019

   First published.