The following is a summary of activity carried our by the BFC over the period April to September 2019
Trade and Exports
New Secretary of State for International Trade Appointed
Elizabeth Truss MP was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade on 24 July 2019. Ms Truss takes over from Liam Fox MP who returns to the backbenches. As with her predecessor, the British Furniture Confederation (BFC) will continue to campaign for improvements to Tradeshow Access Programme funding.
Brexit Preparedness
The BFC has continued engagement with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy through a series of briefing sessions for trade associations and industry representatives, and circulation of material produced by the Government.
The latest Government advice on preparing for Britain’s exit from the European Union can be found here.
Skills and Education
New Secretary of State for Education
On 24 July 2019, Gavin Williamson MP was appointed Secretary of State for Education. He will take overall responsibility for apprenticeships and skills as well as education policy. In light of recent developments in education funding which will impact the furniture industry’s success, the BFC will highlight the importance of training and education in the furniture industry to the new Minister.
Standards and Regulation
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Appointed
Andrea Leadsom MP was appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 24 July 2019. Ms Leadsom’s department is responsible for the UK’s standards and regulation regime. The Department has also been leading on the furniture industry’s Brexit preparations.
Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
The BFC welcomed the publication of the Government’s response to the consultation on upgrading the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 on 18 July 2019.
The BFC continues to believe the furniture industry is fully in support of the need to identify and reduce the use of hazardous fire-retardant chemicals while still maintaining a high degree of fire safety.
Office of Product Safety and Standards – 14 June 2019 Meeting
On 14 June 2019, representatives from BFC members, FIRA and the NBF, attended an initial stakeholder meeting with the Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) regarding the introduction of a second ‘Publicly Available Specification’ (PAS) on how businesses can bring safe products to market.
In addition, the BFC has been advised that the OPSS is also engaging industry in discussions on their future governance, funding, regulation and enforcement. The BFC continues to engage with the OPSS to ensure it continues to work for the furniture industry.
Environment and Circular Economy
Theresa Villiers MP appointed Environment Secretary
On 24 July 2019, Theresa Villiers MP was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In this role, Ms Villiers will lead on the Government’s policy agenda on chemical regulation and the circular economy.
Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry
The Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into the use of chemicals in every day products concluded this quarter. The BFC, alongside FIRA, gave Oral Evidence on 14 May 2019. This followed the BFC’s submission to the inquiry on 8 March 2019.
BFC Chairman, Jonathan Hindle, highlighted that the furniture industry uses chemicals to increase fire safety, create a product finish and to improve a products performance. The Committee’s final report called on the Government to release its response to the consultation on upgrading the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
On 19th September the BFC was represented at a meeting with DEFRA to discuss issues around furniture reuse and recycling as part of the government’s work on revision of the Waste Prevention Plan.
ECHA Restriction Dossier – Formaldehyde
The BFC, along with FIRA and the European Furniture Industries Confederation, responded to the latest European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) consultation on the restriction of formaldehyde. The responding associations queried new requirements for whole product testing where no additional formaldehyde containing products are added and E1 board is used.
All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG)
British Furniture Confederation and Furniture Makers’ Company Summer Reception
On 21 May 2019, the BFC co-hosted a summer reception on the Terrace of the Palace of Westminster with the Furniture Makers’ Company. Around 70 employees from companies representing the domestic and trade furniture businesses attended the event. A keynote speech was delivered by Kelly Tolhurst MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Ms Tolhurst announced in her speech that the furniture industry could expect an update to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 ‘imminently’. Indeed, on 18 July 2019, as mentioned above the Government published its response to the consultation on updating the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
Maggie Throup MP appointed as Government Whip
Chair of the APPFIG, Maggie Throup MP, has been appointed as Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury. Unfortunately, this requires Ms Throup to resign as Chair of the APPFIG and for a new Chair to be elected. The BFC has passed on our thanks to Ms Throup for all her work and support. A new Chair is expected to be elected on 12 November 2019 in the House of Commons.