Experts in legislation, policy and regulation shared insights on current and upcoming topics as part of an information session organised by British Furniture Association (BFA).
Hosted by SATRA at the company’s head office in Kettering, the event encompassed fire safety and wood dust regulations, as well as potential changes to EU Timber Regulations.
Richard Jude, Nick Whittle and Ella Cope from the Office of Product and Safety Standards (OPSS) as well as Gareth Mayhew, Paul Vaughan and Mark Stevens provided updates on their areas of expertise, with each topic followed by a Q&A.
BFA MD, Phil Spademan, says: “We had record attendance at this afternoon session, with both BFA members and non-members present, reflecting the importance of ensuring compliance and understanding potential challenges on the horizon.
“Currently, 80% of visited premises are failing an HSE inspection on dust management, while illegal trade in timber is in the region of $51b-$152b, so there are issues we need to face as an industry – and this type of event is an opportunity to address the challenges and consider potential solutions.
“Industry insights – such as OPSS confirming aims to move away from chemical retardants – are extremely valuable, as were the discussions around the complexities of EU/UK regulation.”
The full agenda included: the latest on Furniture & Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations, with a call to complete the UK and Ireland consultations; UK Timber Regulations and as the impact on businesses when trading with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, alongside EU Policy and Regulations; plus updates on Wood Dust Regulations.
Phil adds: “I’d like to thank all our speakers who gave their time and shared their expertise in a way that was extremely relevant and useful to those in attendance. Our thanks also to the team at SATRA for hosting the event, which included a networking lunch and concluded with an optional laboratory tour.”
BFA delivers deep dive into legislation and regulation
