New guidance has been published for the furniture industry to help it meed the standards needed by retailers and customers.
The guidance, which is produced by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA), is designed to help those working in the furniture sector certify their products. It is set to be used alongside a new set of global standards for consumer products.
It also provides guidance on product safety issues, offers practical hints and tips on avoiding common pitfalls and helps manufacturers understand what to expect from an audit visit.
Dr Geoff Spriegel, Director of BRC Global Standards, said: “This publication will help all manufacturers of furniture achieve and maintain certification against the latest BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products. The Guideline will also be useful for auditors and those requesting that their suppliers adopt the Global Standard.”
The BRC says that independent certification of a manufacturer’s operation against the BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products advances the retail industry’s commitment to safe, legal products of consistent quality.
It adds that certification is an effective and cost efficient way for retailers to establish confidence in products and reduces the burden of multiple audits for suppliers. Ultimately it improves the safety of products for consumers.
Phil Reynolds, Senior Technical Manager, said. “FIRA has been pleased to work with the BRC on this document, which incorporates FIRA’s world renowned knowledge of furniture standards and regulations. This document fits perfectly with FIRAs’ aims of raising safety and quality within the furniture supply chain”.
Further information can be found on the BRC Global Standards website.