The Brexit soon to be released?
While the Brexit negotiations have accustomed us to last-minute twists and turns, it seems that the date of 1 January 2021 will mark the effective exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. Depending on the issues, the United Kingdom should nevertheless announce specific provisions to allow itself time to organise certain legislation and procedures. Here are nevertheless some hot topics for the nautical industry.
Regulatory and tax issues
The Brexit will have an impact on the yachting sector in many ways. "On the one hand, there are sectoral problems for the yachting sector, such as the European directive on recreational craft, and on the other hand there are more cross-cutting problems, but important for all entrepreneurs in their strategy, such as taxation with VAT or import taxes, but also for example intellectual property. Will my European Union patent still be valid in the United Kingdom in January 2021" explains Sébastien Milcendeau, who is working on a note to be published shortly for the members of the Federation of the Nautical Industries.
One year delay for certification of pleasure craft
Among the first questions, comes the certification of boats according to the European directive. How to certify the sailing boats and launches put on the British market in 2021? As for all products with this type of unified regulation, a period of one year has been granted until 2022, during which CE marked pleasure craft can be marketed. Beyond that time, manufacturers or importers will have to apply to British Marine for an identification number, as is the case for the European market, and then have the boat certified according to the appropriate module by a notified body. "The legislative text is ready on their side, it is the transposition of the directive into national law, but the selection of the notified bodies will take time," explains Sébastien Milcendeau.
Guides and webinars flourish
Associations, companies and institutions are multiplying initiatives to support the yachting sector. The French Nautical Industries Federation is due to publish a summary note for its members in France at the beginning of December. British Marine, the British association, has developed a mini-site on the subject. Carriers particularly concerned, such as Peters&May, are holding online webinars. The Office for Product Safety and Standards in the United Kingdom has also published a note entitled "Recreational Craft Regulations 2017, As they apply to craft being supplied in or into Great Britain from 1 January 2021" freely available online
