This article is reproduced with the kind permission of Furnishing Report
The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) pressed the case for the UK furniture industry in Parliament this week, raising recognition of its economic value, and urging Government to ensure policies support its progress.
The All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group meeting was held at Portcullis House on July 8, chaired by Adam Thompson MP, and bringing together parliamentarians including Greg Smith MP and senior figures from businesses including DFS, Belfield Group and Silentnight, alongside leaders of industry trade associations.
Agenda points included industry queries around tariffs and discussion regarding the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Digital Product Passport requirements, along with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. The BFC and industry delegates warned of disproportionate impacts if schemes are not tailored to industry realities, and expressed a desire for early involvement in policy development, including in their design.
Greg Smith MP reiterated the importance of early engagement with policymakers and the civil service to avoid unworkable outcomes. He said it was important to make it understood the various industry sectors didn’t neatly fit into a single box, with other stakeholders highlighting the risk of manufacturers becoming subject to multiple EPR schemes.
Concerns were also raised about diverging flammability regulations, particularly with updated UK rules due in the autumn and uncertainty over Irish alignment with EU or UK standards ahead of the imminent close of the Irish Government’s consultation.
Businesses also highlighted commercial risks due to conflicting product safety and environmental policies, and called for greater interdepartmental coordination. The meeting concluded with a two-house drop-in session for MPs to explore and better understand the industry’s contribution to employment across manufacturing, wholesale and retail, with Jonathan Hinder, Victoria Collins, Judith Cummins, and Liz Saville-Roberts among those who attended.