As was stated in the Trading Standards Review recently "The TDA has proved fit for purpose in dealing with a wide range of unfair commercial practices, including counterfeiting, car clocking and cowboy trading".

GREEN PAPER

The European Commission has just published a Green Paper on the "Review of the Consumer Acquis". Effectively the Green Paper is the result of a two year review of eight consumer related directives by the EC and how these are transposed into individual member states’ law. The aim is to highlight disparities in harmonisation and considers various options that may improve cross-border legislation implementation. Its aim is also to review the efficacy and appropriateness of the current legislation.

The paper highlights three main issues:

• New Market Developments – new channels which are not covered by current directives. The distance Selling Directive currently allows for on-line auction sites to be exempted; this will require amendment.

• Fragmentation of Rules – existing EU consumer protection allows member states to adopt more stringent rules in their own country and effectively put up "barriers" to cross border trade. There also exist inconsistencies in the regulatory process from one member state to another.

• Lack of Confidence – there is an underlying lack of confidence amongst consumers to purchase products from business located abroad. This is particularly relevant to e-commerce where confidence levels are extremely low.

As a consulting partner of the DTI we will be reviewing the paper in detail and responding to the European Commission by 15th May 2007.

BPA AT HARROGATE

Last year was the first time that the Baby Products Association exhibited at the Harrogate Nursery Fair and our stand was constantly bombarded with enquiries about the wide range of services and activities that your industry’s association has underway at any given time.

We are returning to Harrogate again this year and will be delighted to meet with you at our stand Q53. Whatever your position within the industry the BPA most definitely has something of interest to you.

Retailers - we will be recruiting members for BPA Retail, our new nursery retailers’ association. For members, BPA Retail will provide an environment where ideas, issues and experiences can be shared, together with a range of specialist membership services; a common forum where there exists a certain safety in numbers and a facility to develop and promote best practice in our industry. Please come and see us on our stand to discuss what BPA Retail can do for you and to pick up a free information pack.

You can also pick up your second hand goods campaign posters and leaflets and "Check It Fits" campaign pack. These very successful campaigns are being headlined again during Child Safety Week in June.

Suppliers – if you have not yet joined the BPA it is about time you did. Come and see us at Harrogate to discuss the benefits of membership.

Production of the BPA Yearbook 2007/8 is well under way and you must make sure your free entry is included. If you want to take advantage of the brilliant advertising opportunities in what amounts to the industry’s bible please make sure you discuss with us either at Harrogate or better still before, as deadline date is looming large.

One and All – whether supplier, retailer, agent, test house, consultant, designer, press or business services provider to the nursery products industry we will be delighted to see you. If you have an idea for the next big thing in nursery products come and pick up a BPA Concept 2007 entry form. Quite a few entries have already been submitted so don't miss out.

If you have a technical query, ethical query, environmental or commercial query or just want to come and discuss the industry where it’s going and what you would like to see happen next please don’t hesitate, drop by to stand Q53. We look forward to meeting you there.

BPA BABY & CHILD 07

Recently we have recruited a new member of staff to the BPA team. Sarah Firth joined us at the end of January as Event Co-ordinator. Sarah has had previous event organiser experience and most recently worked on the Bristol Balloon Fiesta – a huge event which attracted 500,000 visitors over the course of the four days. Sarah joins us at a very busy time and has been fielding a large volume of enquiries for this year’s show ever since she started. This year the event takes place at the NEC on 7-9 October. If you would like details of BPA Baby & Child 2007 please contact Sarah on 0845 456 9580 or email sarah@babyandchildfair.co.uk .

Tel: 0845 456 9570 Email: info@b-p-a.org  Web: www.b-p-a.org  

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