There is a definite air of ‘coming down to Earth' in the BPA office. After a year of planning and organisation for BPA Baby & Child 2008, followed by an intense few months finalising details for the show and the Awards, the feeling of euphoria at seeing the fruits of all this hard work come together, and so successfully, was felt by everyone in the BPA team.

The BPA Concept stand will once again be celebrating the latest innovative products and design concepts recognised by our award programme for 2008. These designs have incredible potential to succeed in the market place. Whilst a few are still in the early stages of design and development, others are close to production and launch.

Please don't forget, if you are a member of BPA Retail you can enjoy up to 15% discount from exhibitors participating in our BPA Retail Discount Scheme.

The British Standard BS8509: 2008 Children's Beds for Domestic Use - Safety requirements and test methods has now been published. If you are a member of the BPA you can order this at a discounted rate. Please contact us on 0845 456 9570 or visit the BPA website and request the document online at http://www.b-p-a.org/.

It is often commented that with Kind und Jugend just before us in the calendar that there is no point in visiting BPA Baby & Child because it will have already been shown at Köln. This couldn't be further from the truth. BPA Baby & Child is noted for its new products and innovations and this year is no exception. Not only are there over 30 first time exhibitors to the industry on the Launchpad area but also there are a further 51 established businesses exhibiting that never showed at Cologne.

As I write this article it is cold, miserable and tipping down with rain. Despite global warming and the threat of a hotter dry climate, here we are in mid August and not for the first time this week; it feels like a rainy day in November. If I cast my mind back the many decades since I was a child I can recall many a walk down a rain swept esplanade in the middle of summer, cold and miserable and waiting for the sun to come out.  So nothing really changes does it?

You may recall that for the first time in the 25 year history of BPA Baby & Child the Association is holding a preview day for the media. Members of the consumer press, national press, trade press, TV and radio were invited to the special day at London's QEII Conference Centre on 3rd September.

We have witnessed a steady influx of new members to the BPA over the last few months and currently have seven applications being vetted and processed. In addition we would like to welcome the following members that have joined us recently:

You may recall our campaign to change the rate of VAT on car seat bases from 17.5% to 5%. Following the rejection of our appeal to the Policy Unit of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC), we have been heavily lobbying Westminster since the beginning of 2008.

We have reported on the upcoming REACH regulations in previous issues of Nursery Industry,  and can now report that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have opened a consultation on the first 16 substances that could become the first candidate substances for authorisation. Interested parties now have until 14th August to respond to ECHA with comments on exposures, alternative substances and risks posed by the substances on the list.

We are delighted to announce that at this year's BPA Baby & Child we have retained the services of a one of today's most effective business gurus . A phenomenon, who has delighted audiences throughout Britain and the world, Geoff Burch is an extraordinary speaker, whose unique and refreshing outlook on all manner of business topics has made him the busiest of speakers available.

We can confirm that the British and European Standards BS EN 12221 Changing Units have now been published by BSI.  These standards are now available for purchase from BSI or at a discount through the BPA if you are a member.

Following the tragic death of a child in the USA, the USA ASTM standard was amended to include a requirement for testing and marking of products containing high powered magnets above 50 flux index and based on this information, the European Commission placed a mandate on CEN (the European standards) to amend the EN71 part 1 standard to include magnets. 

The nursery industry attracts numerous creative and innovative new product ideas. Regardless of education or background, every new parent has a common purpose in caring for their baby and new products are constantly being designed and introduced to the market by people who want to make parenthood easier and more enjoyable. Having found a personal solution, they then want to share it with others.

BPA's Executive committee was confirmed at the recent AGM held in Banbury on 11 June 2008. One new member was elected; Dylan Johnson of Maclaren Europe Ltd who was co-opted alongside Mike Chapman of East Coast Nursery Ltd.

Initially, take up for BPA Retail membership was disappointingly slow, probably because, as with many new initiatives, people are cautious and take a while to recognise the benefits before committing themselves. However, the message seems to be getting through and in recent months BPA has seen a significant increase in enquiries and has recruited several new members, the newest being Olivers Babycare of Winchester.

Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, warned recently that Britain may well be facing two years of economic pain and consumer confidence is currently quite depressed. Consequently it's not surprising that many companies are feeling the pinch and tightening their belts. We at the BPA wondered if the current climate would have an impact on our industry exhibition taking place at the NEC, Birmingham in October.

Whilst the BPA has received considerable interest in BPA Retail membership and has sent out numerous application packs in response to requests, retailers still seem reluctant to commit themselves and as a result take up has been slow.

You may recall the BPA has an ongoing commitment to getting the rate of VAT reduced to 5% on ISOFIX and belted bases for child car seats. Currently treated by Revenue and Customs as an accessory these products, which dramatically improve the correct fitment of child seats and consequently child safety, carry 17.5% VAT.

We can now confirm details of the Pre-Show Press Event taking place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, London on Wednesday, 3 September 2008. This is the first time that BPA has held such an event and in celebration of BPA Baby & Child's 25th anniversary, the association decided to make this year one to remember and give significant added exposure for exhibitors.

An exciting new development for BPA Baby & Child 2008 unravelled this week when a soon-to-be well-known TV celebrity agreed to participate in this year's show.