National
We work with government, regulators and enforcement bodies in the UK to put forward the interests of British toy makers to ensure that we have the best possible regulatory regime which protects both responsible toy businesses and the children that play with our products.
In all the advocacy work we do we consider the interests of children and their families and their ability to learn through playing with our members’ toys. In doing so we are constantly monitoring legislative issues on behalf of our members to identify and address opportunities and threats to the toy business. We advocate from the beginning of the legislative process to ensure that the industry’s position is understood when new rules are being created, right through to implementation to ensure these rules are properly and fairly enforced.
Our latest work
Campaigns
We campaign on behalf of reputable toy makers concerned about fake and illegal products. Read more about the BTHA’s work around third-party sellers on online marketplaces.
BTHA Advocacy Campaigns
BTHA Advocacy Campaigns
We campaign on behalf of reputable toy makers concerned about fake and illegal products. Read more about the BTHA’s work around third-party sellers on online marketplaces.
The BTHA supports Which? report calling for tougher regulation - 23.03.20
BTHA call for online marketplace regulatory change - 23.03.20
Guidance from the BTHA on buying toys from online platforms - 23.03.20
BTHA Commitment to remove unsafe toys from online platforms - 23.03.20
Sector Representation
The BTHA carries out regular consultations with government on behalf of members on any area which impacts their business.
BTHA Advocacy Sector Representation
BTHA Advocacy Sector Representation
The BTHA carries out regular consultations with government on behalf of members on any area which impacts their business.
Calls for Government Action
EU Withdrawal Regulatory Requirements - Industry Letter to Michael Gove
Letter to Andrew Laughton from Paul Scully MP
Letter to Boris Johnson PM - Call for toys to be made an essential item
Chemicals in toys
BTHA final response to chemical regulation in toys post Brexit consultation - 23.03.20
Connected labelling
ISO marketing
Age appropriate design
BTHA covering letter for the ICO contribution to age appropriate design consultation - 23.03.20
BTHA connected toy age evidence - 23.03.20
BTHA final age appropriate design code consultation response - 23.03.20
DEFRA
BTHA HM Treasury Plastic Packaging Tax - 23.03.20
DCMS
BTHA response to the DCMS consultation on Online Harms White Paper - 23.03.20
Trade Submissions
Members are invited to look at the submissions made by the BTHA to the Department of International Trade and the negotiating team within The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
International Trade Agreements
International Trade Agreements
As the UK leaves the EU the country needs to have deals in place to trade with other nations. Without trade deals companies will find it more difficult to trade due to technical differences with product standards, that can sometimes be overcome during negotiations. It can also be more expensive as tariff rates need to be negotiated via Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
The BTHA has been actively engaged on behalf of members on many discussions during the EU Brexit negotiating process. Over the past 12 months the BTHA has increasingly represented members on issues that need to be addressed as part of Free Trade Agreements with other countries. Here you can find the recent submissions (dated with the submission date – please be aware additional more recent conversations may be ongoing but this date is the most recent formal written submission) and guides for members to help you to understand the safety differences between nations you may be trading with.
Below the formal submissions and guidance you will find a series of explainers that accompany the FTAs to explain some of the technical terms and how they impact member companies. We hope these give more information to guide members through this relatively new process for the UK. If there are areas you would like explained please email Del@btha.co.uk and we can add to the explainer series. We hope that these will help you to feel confident in submitting comments about the impact of trade agreements on your business so the BTHA can represent your views to government. If you have feedback on the BTHA submissions, or would like to give input to the BTHA for consideration in future discussions, please email Natasha@btha.co.uk.
BTHA submission on the EU FTA to HoL committee
Date submitted: 29th June 2020
USA FTA submission to House of Lords
Date submitted: 25th June 2020
UK US Trade Deal: toy sector white paper
Date submitted: 3rd June 2020
EU BTHA submission
Date submitted: 25th May 2020
Understanding Free Trade Agreements
Understanding Free Trade Agreements
What are Parallel Trade and Exhaustion Rights?
Some of the issues we represent our members on:
Toy safety
Ethical manufacturing
Environmental issues
Responsible marketing to children and families
Data protection
Connected toys
Intellectual property
Trade
To support our advocacy work we commission research, attend meetings with MPs and civil servants, and host events on behalf of members.
The main event each year is the BTHA’s Parliamentary Reception held in November.
European
We remain an active member of Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) which brings together national toy associations from across Europe as well as toy companies. Collaboratively, we work to engage with the European institutions on a multitude of legislative issues which impact toy businesses. We continue to work with European colleagues and policy makers in the changing European marketplace. The BTHA has been active in identifying impacts to the toy business as a result of Brexit and has engaged with politicians to highlight those issues over the past two years, as well as finding solutions for members and offering advice and training for companies to understand the business impacts.
The BTHA, through direct membership, and via members and experts, will continue to participate in standards committees and expert groups wherever those avenues remain open to UK industry.
International
We monitor the global toy landscape on behalf of members. We are a member of the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) , with a membership made up of toy trade associations from across the globe. We come together twice a year to identify emerging threats and opportunities and to share best practice from around the world.
