The following is a summary of activities carried out by the BFC over the period September 2018 to March 2019
Trade and Exports
Update on the United Kingdom’s negotiations to leave the European Union
On 10 April 2019, the EU council concluded that it will grant an extension to Article 50 until 31 October 2019. This was accepted by the Prime Minister, and, as a matter of international law, the UK’s exit date from the EU has been altered from 12 April 2019 to 31 October 2019. The EU confirmed that the Withdrawal Agreement will not be amended.
Fundamentally, the options available to the UK remain the same. The UK could:
- Leave the EU with a withdrawal agreement.
- Leave the EU without a withdrawal agreement on 31 October 2019.
- Revoke Article 50 and remain a member of the EU.
Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) Funding Announced
Following delays, TAP funding has been agreed for next 12 months as of 27 February 2019. The BFC believes that as a result of this delay it will be harder for companies in our sector to attend important upcoming tradeshows as most of the show space will already have been booked.
The BFC also notes that if a company has already committed to an event, they cannot retrospectively apply for funding. Each exhibitor can apply for £1500 of funding for local tradeshows and £2500 of funding for international tradeshows. The BFC is disappointed by the overall decline in funding levels and are campaigning for an increase in the overall funds available and the amount available per exhibitor.
Skills and Education
Developments in Post-16 Education
There was an announcement on 19 March 2019 from the Department for Education (DfE) on their plans to boost the quality of post-16 qualifications.
The Education Secretary, Damian Hinds MP, launched a consultation reviewing qualifications at Level 3 and below. The DfE believes that the current problem with post-16 education is that it is not clear what the best routes for students and employers are for those pursuing options outside of the academic subjects.
DfE is consulting on the following proposals:
- Only providing public funding for qualifications that meet key criteria on quality, purpose, necessity and progression.
- Not providing public funding for qualifications for 16 to 19 year olds that overlap with T Levels or A Levels.
Standards and Regulations
BFC Letter to Kelly Tolhurst MP – 18 September 2018
The BFC wrote to Kelly Tolhurst MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), seeking clarification on the status of furniture products that contain electric features. Specifically, the BFC highlighted concerns that the Machinery Directive undermined the UK’s safety regime by bypassing the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (FFFSR), as amended, and put the public at risk.
The BFC also shared its research on the topic including a video demonstrating the practical meaning of FFFSR compliant furniture showing two identical chairs – one that was FFFSR compliant and the other that conformed to the Machinery Directive but was not FFFSR compliant.
Kelly Tolhurst MP letter to the BFC – 11 October 2018
Ms Tolhurst thanked the BFC for raising the issues and outlined the work of her Department. Ms Tolhurst stated that she had passed the evidence provided by the BFC on to officials in the Office for Product Safety and Standards to consider.
In addition, Ms Tolhurst stated that the ‘Machinery Directive is a complete safety directive and manufacturers must ensure that products they place on the market meet the requirements for fire safety.’
A meeting was offered with officials in the Office for Product Safety and Standards to examine the concerns raised by the BFC in more detail.
BFC letter to Kelly Tolhurst MP – 5 November 2018
The BFC wrote again to Kelly Tolhurst MP thanking her for her letter dated 11 October 2018 but seeking further clarification on the Minister’s statement regarding the Machinery Directive being a ‘complete safety directive’. The BFC highlighted how the BFC’s recent film showed how products that met the Directive might not meet British flammability standards.
BEIS Ministerial Correspondence Unit letter to the BFC – 23 November 2018
BEIS officials wrote to the BFC to restate that the Government was committed to ensuring that all furniture must be safe before it can be supplied. As part of this, the Government was committed to working with the furniture industry to address any concerns.
BFC Meeting with the Office of Product Safety and Standards – 12 February 2019
Following previous correspondence with Kelly Tolhurst MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Office of Product Safety and Standards were asked to meet with the BFC to discuss our concerns about the Machinery Directive and the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (FFFSRs).
At the meeting, the BFC were disappointed to hear that the Government was still reviewing the consultation on the FFFSRs despite its closing in 2016. However, the officials present were able to provide clarity on other issues.
OPSS officials stated that it is the Government’s intention that both the FFFSRs and Machinery Directive should equally apply to electrically actuated motion furniture. The BFC remains concerned by the suggestion from OPSS officials that such an intention can only be confirmed via the courts.
BFC Letter to Kelly Tolhurst MP – 19 February 2019
The BFC wrote to Kelly Tolhurst MP following the meeting with OPSS to call for the Machinery Directive to be modified to allow the General Product Safety Directive to apply to any risk to consumers that may exist outside of the scope of the Machinery Directive.
The BFC believes that this would be a sensible change as the General Product Safety Directive is well understood for consumer products and uses a similar risk based assessment process to the Machinery Directive to prove compliance.
Kelly Tolhurst MP letter to the BFC – 13 March 2019
The response from Kelly Tolhurst MP stated that any changes to EU Directives would need to be agreed by the European Commission and Member States. Ms Tolhurst went on to explain that she did not feel there would be sufficient support to take forward the BFC’s suggestion with EU Member States and the Commission.
The BFC are considering the next steps to take following Ms Tolhurst’s letter.
Environment and Circular Economy
BFC meeting with DEFRA – 16 November 2018
The BFC met with officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to discuss Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
DEFRA officials are looking into how EPR schemes might work in the furniture industry. The BFC expressed the view that the Government needs to lay down a comprehensive approach to sustainability and that, in doing so, they should regularly engage with furniture businesses.
BFC Written Evidence submission to the Environmental Audit Committee – 8 March 2019
The BFC submitted evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into the impact of toxic chemicals in everyday life on human health and the environment.
The BFC highlighted that the furniture industry uses chemicals to increase fire safety, create a product finish and to improve a products performance. The BFC also stated that the furniture industry uses chemicals according to EU and UK legislation, and is keen to engage in the best way to use chemicals in the future.
All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG)
All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group AGM – 27 November 2018
The All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 27 November 2018, at which Maggie Throup MP was re-elected as Chair of the Group.
Parliamentarians present were shown the BFC’s recent video demonstrating the ongoing effectiveness of the FFFSR in protecting the general public. However, the BFC reiterated that the regulations were in urgent need of updating to reflect modern materials and manufacturing techniques, and to ensure environmental concerns were addressed.
The meeting was attended by furniture industry representatives who were invited to share with the Parliamentarians present their concerns on education policy, export strategies and fire-safety regulations.
APPFIG Meeting – 11 March 2019
The APPFIG held a meeting on 11 March 2019 in the House of Commons. The Group discussed the Tradeshow Access Programme, the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into chemicals in everyday products, the Machinery Directive and fire safety regulations.
The meeting was attended by furniture industry representatives who were able to answer questions from Parliamentarians. The discussion focused on the issues facing the furniture industry and what Parliamentarians could do to advocate for furniture businesses.
For the next APPFIG meeting, an infographic will be available to Parliamentarians setting out key industry statistics and a summary of policy developments.
Westminster Hall Debate on UK Furniture Industry
Ms Maggie Throup MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG), secured a Westminster Hall debate on 23 January 2019 that examined the contribution of furniture manufacturing to the UK economy. Ms Throup used the opportunity to champion UK furniture manufacturing and raised some of the policy issues that the British Furniture Confederation (BFC) has been highlighting.
The debate was well attended by MPs from both sides of the House of Commons and from constituencies across the UK. Richard Harrington MP, then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business and Industry, responded for the Government. He acknowledged the economic importance of the furniture industry, commented how ‘furniture is fundamental to all our lives’ and provided clarity on the Government’s position on some of the BFC’s key policy concerns.
Mr Harrington mentioned that ‘the country has a rich history of producing world-class furniture’. When he concluded the debate, Mr Harrington stated that he recognised ‘the furniture industry’s great contribution to our country and of the strong position it is in to make a positive contribution to a more sustainable future.’