The long-awaited revised regulations will come into force on 30 October 2025, with the majority of childcare articles now removed from scope.
This change means manufacturers are no longer bound by the UK’s additional requirements, which previously demanded testing over and above EU and UN safety standards and often forced a costly dual manufacturing process. Going forward, manufacturers and suppliers will benefit from transferable stock, and dedicated labelling will no longer be required — flammability compliance will sit within the relevant individual safety standards.
The products excluded from scope, such as highchairs, baby walkers and Moses baskets, carry a far lower fire load than those remaining covered — adult mattresses, sofas, and armchairs and many of the excluded items are designed primarily for use outside the home.
Following a decade and a half of sustained campaigning and lobbying by the BPIA, the Office for Product Safety and Standards acknowledged that while there may be a very small theoretical reduction in safety levels, in practice the risk is negligible given the minimal filling materials and typical usage of these products. Reducing the reliance on chemical flame retardants in items designed for babies and young children is also a major positive outcome.
For full guidance, visit the UK Government website or members are invited to contact the BPIA directly at julie@b-p-a.org or 0845 456 9570.
