Latest News

Events

Decoding China – an event by the UK Department for Business and Trade

15th October 2025

The UK Department for Business and Trade invites you to attend a dedicated workshop exploring opportunities in China’s dynamic consumer market. This event is part of International Trade Week and...

Awards

2025 Toy Retailer of the Year Awards application process now open

8th October 2025

The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Toy Retailer Awards, with an expanded range of categories introduced to recognise excellence...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

8th October 2025

Regulations & governance: Senior Team Update Jeremy Blake, CEO Esther Carter, CSO Appointed in July, they became the permanent Officers for PackUK to replace Margaret Bates who was acting as...

Environmental

Implementing regulation EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition

1st October 2025

As part of the consumer rights obligations of the original Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT), on the 25 September the European Commission adopted the Implementing Regulation establishing the harmonised...

Environmental

Further delay to the EU regulation on deforestation-free products

1st October 2025

EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on Deforestation-Free Products It has recently been announced that the above Regulation which was due to come into force on the 30 December 2025 (after a...

Environmental

Waste Framework Directive (amendment) published in EU Official Journal

30th September 2025

DIRECTIVE (EU) 2025/1892 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste On 26 September 2025, DIRECTIVE (EU) 2025/1892 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Waste Framework Directive) was published in the Official Journal of...

Toy Safety

Fake Toys, Real Harms

25th September 2025

Counterfeit toys are a concern in the UK. This year alone, more than 259,000 fake toys worth £3.5m have been seized at the border, and a shocking three in four...

EU Toy Safety Regulation

Adoption of the EU Toy Safety Regulation – Current Status

24th September 2025

We are still waiting for the final text of the Regulation to be approved by the EU’s lawyer-linguists and translators. Next steps: Council adoption: The Council (Ministers) is expected to...

Latest News

Government launches major consultation to boost UK design protection

10th September 2025

Page updated: 7 October 2025 The Government has launched a comprehensive consultation to modernise Britain's design protection system, offering toy manufacturers and creators a crucial opportunity to influence how intellectual...

EU Toy Safety Regulation

Digital Product Passport (DPP)

9th September 2025

You will have heard that the new EU Toy Safety Regulation (EUTSR), not yet published in the Official Journal, will introduce a requirement for toys to have a Digital Product...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

3rd September 2025

Regulations & governance: PackUK announces members appointed to three key advisory groups. These voluntary advisory groups, while not decision-making bodies, will continue the development of pEPR bringing a diverse range...

Latest News

Protecting Your Toy Designs: A Guide for Toy Manufacturers and Creators

20th August 2025

Guest article from Ollie Downey at the Intellectual Property Office In the competitive world of toys and games, your designs are valuable commercial assets. Whether you're a multinational brand...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

6th August 2025

Regulations & governance: PackUK appoints executive board positions: PackUK appointed the new permanent positions of: Chief Executive Officer - Jeremy Blake Chief Strategy Officers – Esther Carter These roles will...

Latest News

French Triman Scheme

23rd July 2025

The EU Commission has decided to refer France to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to address the incompatibility of its labelling requirements concerning waste sorting instructions with...

Latest News

Product Regulation and Metrology Act now in force

22nd July 2025

The UK’s new product safety legislation, the Product Regulation and Metrology Act, has now received Royal Assent. The Act now gives the government powers to make new, and update...

Member Guidance

BTHA published member guidance so far in 2025

9th July 2025

We provide a range of tools, guidance, and services to full members to help you keep up to date with the latest regulations impacting your business, and to support you...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

2nd July 2025

Regulations and Governance Producer Responsibility Organisation PackUK continue to progress with appointing a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), an independent private sector body, appointed to provide producer leadership in the operation...

Latest News

BTHA updates to the Chemical Dashboard June 2025

23rd June 2025

The following changes have been made to the BTHA Chemical Dashboard and Substance Toolkit. For each change the reason has been stated and the documents affected with the new version...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

11th June 2025

The UK government is introducing new extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging regulations for UK organisations who supply or import packaging into the UK. The requirements under these regulations are...

Environmental

Member Guidance on the EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

21st May 2025

REGULATION (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC The new Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) (2025/40) aims...

Latest News

Update on the Product Regulation & Metrology Bill

21st May 2025

BTHA evidence used by MPs to support stronger obligations for online marketplaces during the Public Bill Committee The UK’s Product Regulation & Metrology Bill gives the government powers to create...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

7th May 2025

Latest News

New EU Toy Safety Regulation nears final draft

16th April 2025

On the 10th April the EU institutions reached a final agreement on the content of the new EU Toy Safety Regulation (TSR). Key points are: A transition period of 54 months...

Latest News

Changes to UK Employment Law

9th April 2025

There have been several recent changes to employment law in the UK, with further changes expected to be in force during the next few years once the current draft Employment...

Consumer Guidance

Consumer protection and enforcement changes under the DMCCA now in force

9th April 2025

On 6 April 2025, new Unfair Commercial Practices (UCP) provisions under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 came into effect, replacing the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs). The Competition and Markets Authority...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

2nd April 2025

Latest News

Toy associations working to avoid tariffs being applied to toys

26th March 2025

The BTHA, in common with many other toy associations around the world and representative bodies for toy manufacturers, is a signatory to the following common voluntary declaration. This reminder to...

Latest News

New BSI Standards for Appendix C Substances in Toys

26th March 2025

The British Standards Institute (BSI) has published new standards for substances listed in Appendix C of the UK Toys (Safety) Regulations and the EU Toy Safety Directive. These apply to...

Latest News

Update on the Product Regulation & Metrology Bill

19th March 2025

The UK’s Product Regulation & Metrology Bill (PRaM), which gives the government powers to create and amend future product regulations (including toy regulations) and online marketplaces, has now completed its...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

5th March 2025

Latest News

EU Commission publishes references to harmonised standards for cybersecurity of radio equipment

12th February 2025

The European Commission has recently published its Decision referencing harmonised standards in support of the cybersecurity requirements of the Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU) or (RED). The RED includes requirements for Internet...

Latest News

The Toy Trust launches 2025 main fundraising campaign ‘MEGA Midsummer Mayhem’

11th February 2025

Building on the success of 2024’s very Midsummer Mayhem fundraiser, The Toy Trust have unveiled plans for their big fundraising initiative for 2025. Taking place across the months May, June,...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

5th February 2025

Member Guidance

Standards Updated

29th January 2025

Updated standards have recently been published by the British Standards Institute (BSI). EN71 Part 3 Migration of Certain elements EN71 Part 13 Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games...

Awards

Toy Industry Awards Winners 2024 announced

22nd January 2025

Wow! Stuff, Smyths and Spin Master Toys triumphed at the 60th Toy Industry Awards Wow! Stuff, Smyths and Spin Master Toys UK triumphed at this year’s Toy Industry Awards...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

8th January 2025

Environmental

Frequently asked questions about the recyclability assessment methodology (RAM) for UK Packaging EPR

8th January 2025

Under extended producer responsibility for packaging in the UK, large producers must report the recyclability of some packaging materials using the government’s recyclability assessment methodology (RAM). UK Government published the...

Environmental

Preparing for the UK Packaging EPR obligations in 2025 – Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM)

18th December 2024

The UK government is introducing new extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging regulations for UK organisations who supply or import packaging into the UK.Many of the new requirements come into...

Environmental

BTHA WEEE Consultation and Call for Evidence communication

18th December 2024

On 10th December 2024, the UK Government published outcomes to the consultation and call for evidence on reforming the UK WEEE Regulations, which were held over December 2023 – March...

Environmental

French Environmental Qualities Labelling Decree

11th December 2024

Members should take note of a correction to the BTHA EU Sustainability Issue Tracker on the scope of this French regulation as the requirements may apply to your business. Please...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

4th December 2024

Environmental

Toy reuse parent YouGov survey results

4th December 2024

As part of the BTHA’s work to understand the environmental impact of toys, we have conducted a series of consumer surveys to understand the life of a toy. These surveys...

Environmental

French environmental data publishing obligation update

20th November 2024

The French requirements to publish a product sheet of environmental qualities and characteristics, will capture more companies as of 1st January 2025. The requirements call on companies to publish data...

Latest News

Requests for electronic addresses to be applied to toys under the GPSR (Regulation (EU) 2023/988 2023 – General Product Safety)

20th November 2024

The BTHA would like to clarify requirements under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). We have received reports from members that EU retailers are requesting the electronic name and address...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

6th November 2024

Latest News

Food Imitating Toys Update

30th October 2024

EU: The General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, effective December 2024, replaces the Food Imitation Directive and classifies products resembling food as dangerous if they pose a risk to children....

Data Protection

Data (Use and Access) Bill introduced into Parliament

30th October 2024

Last week (23 October), the UK government introduced the Data (Use and Access) Bill into Parliament. This Bill has been renamed since the King’s Speech where it was titled the...

Awards

2024 Toy Retailer of the Year Awards Application Process Now Open

28th October 2024

The British Toy & Hobby Association, organisers of the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards have announced that the 2024 retailer application process is now open. Retailers can compete nationally...

Latest News

Latest Online Marketplace Investigation Findings Published

22nd October 2024

We have now published the results of the latest edition of our online marketplace investigation revealing that 85% of the toys purchased from third-party sellers through major online marketplaces could...

Latest News

Employment Rights Bill Introduced into Parliament

16th October 2024

Last week the government introduced the Employment Rights Bill into Parliament which is one of its flagship pieces of legislation for the first 100 days of government. The Bill seeks...

Latest News

PAS 7055:2021 – Button and coin batteries – Safety requirements

9th October 2024

The “Publicly Available Specification” for batteries is undergoing a revision. PAS 7055:2025 is now out for its 4 week consultation. BSI is encouraging comments to be collected by trade associations...

Environmental

HBCDD limit lowered in Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation

2nd October 2024

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2555 amending the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation was published in the Official Journal on 27th September 2024. The Regulation enters into force on 17th October 2024. HBCDD...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

2nd October 2024

Latest News

New REACH Annex XVII restriction published: undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and PFHxA-related substances

25th September 2024

New REACH Annex XVII restriction published: undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and PFHxA-related substances. Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462 amending REACH Annex XVII was published in the Official Journal on 19th...

Latest News

New BTHA Chemical Dashboard is now live

17th September 2024

The new central resource to support full members with chemical compliance, the BTHA Chemicals Dashboard, is now available to FULL members. The Chemical Dashboard brings together all the existing and...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

11th September 2024

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

7th August 2024

Latest News

New product safety legislation announced in the King’s Speech 2024

24th July 2024

Last week, the new UK government set out its legislative agenda through the King’s Speech. Of note for the toy industry, was the Product Safety and Metrology Bill, which aims...

Member Guidance

Toy microwavable warmers

24th July 2024

The EU Commission requested that the new version of EN71-1 includes requirements for toy microwavable warmers with a view to this replacing the current Notified Body Protocol as the only...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

10th July 2024

Latest News

General Election 2024 – Political Party Manifestos

17th June 2024

Three of the four largest UK political parties in Westminster have now launched their manifestos ahead of the UK’s General Election to be held on Thursday 4 July. A manifesto...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

12th June 2024

Latest News

BTHA video launched to celebrate 80th anniversary

13th May 2024

This year the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) is celebrating its 80th anniversary. To mark the occasion we have produced a short celebratory video reflecting on the past 80...

Member Guidance

Updates on the revision of the EU Toy Safety Directive

8th May 2024

Members will be aware that the EU Commission is working on a new Toy Safety Regulation to replace the existing Toy Safety Directive. Negotiations are still ongoing with regards to...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

3rd May 2024

Member Guidance

Employment Law Updates 2024 – things to be aware of and to look out for

1st May 2024

DLA Piper has put together the note below to update you on the recent and upcoming employment law changes which may be of relevance. As part of your membership, DLA...

Events

Fifth edition of Play for Change Awards

30th April 2024

The fifth edition of the Play for Change Awards is now open for entries. Organised by Toy Industries of Europe (TIE), the Awards celebrate purpose-driven toymakers who promote positive societal...

Member Guidance

Batteries Regulation for the EU – Updated BTHA Fact Sheet (Version 2)

15th April 2024

Parts of the new EU Batteries Regulation came into force in February 2024, with other changes coming it at later dates. The BTHA’s toy safety team created a fact sheet...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

10th April 2024

Member Guidance

1 month until the UK product security regime is in force

27th March 2024

BTHA members are reminded it is the final countdown until the new product security regulations come into force at the end of April. The Product Security & Telecommunications Infrastructure (Product...

Environmental

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility – Monthly Member Update

20th March 2024

Latest News

New Counterfeiting tactic on Amazon Brand Registry

6th March 2024

New Counterfeiting tactic on Amazon Brand Registry The BTHA has been made aware of a new counterfeiting tactic using trade mark applications, which is increasingly being used on Amazon Brand...

Member Guidance

Updated BTHA Fact Sheet for the UK Product Security Requirements

28th February 2024

The Product Security & Telecommunications Infrastructure (Product Security) Regime in the UK The Product Security & Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations 2023 apply to relevant internet...

Member Guidance

Batteries Regulation for the EU

21st February 2024

New EU Batteries Regulation takes effect Parts of the new Batteries Regulation came into force this month. The Regulation is long and complicated with a number of changes coming in...

Member Guidance

Microplastics

21st February 2024

REACH Microplastics restriction: updated scope The European Commission recently updated their interpretation of the scope of the REACH microplastics restriction. The Commission microplastics web page now states that articles with...

Member Guidance

OPSS clarification on EN IEC 62115:2020/A11:2020 designation

7th February 2024

The BTHA has been discussing the UK’s designation of EN IEC 62115:2020/A11:2020 and the inclusion of the informative note with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). After some...

Member Guidance

BTHA REACH SVHC spreadsheet updated

31st January 2024

The BTHA SVHC spreadsheet has been updated to reflect the latest 240 restricted substances as of 23rd January 2024. The additional substances below are applicable in the EU and NI...

Member Guidance

UK government extends the recognition of CE marking

31st January 2024

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have announced that the government is now expanding the scope of continued CE recognition to include three more regulations. To provide legal certainty to...

Toy Trust

Toy Trust Media Auction raises a fantastic £100,000 for charity

26th January 2024

Toy Trust Media Auction raises a fantastic £100,000 for charity The annual Toy Trust Media Auction has been hailed a huge success, and in a unique and special year...

Awards

Toy Industry Awards Winners 2023 announced

23rd January 2024

Bitzee, Character Options and Smyths triumph at the 59th Toy Industry Awards Bitzee, Character Options and Smyths triumphed at this year’s Toy Industry Awards winning Toy of the Year, Supplier...

Member Guidance

Titanium dioxide and cobalt classifications under GB CLP

17th January 2024

After Brexit, the UK implemented its own version of the CLP Regulation. This is known as the mandatory classification list (MCL). This is published as a spreadsheet on the Health...

Events

Toy Trust Launches 2024 Media Auction

17th January 2024

The annual Toy Trust Media Auction of valuable airtime, magazine and online items is now open and advance bids are welcome. The auction will continue throughout Toy Fair 2024 at...

Environmental

Changes to 2023 packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) data reporting obligations for producers

17th January 2024

In the 5th December 2023 Business Readiness Forum and subsequently in the 28th December 2023 newsletter, Defra confirmed that there are some changes to producer’s reporting obligations of 2023 data...

Member Guidance

Fact sheet published on ‘Common Chargers for the EU’

10th January 2024

Version 3 of the BTHA’s fact sheet on common chargers for the EU has been published to reflect the latest changes to the Radio Equipment Directive. Directive (EU) 2022/2380 of...

Events

Booking now open for FREE advice surgeries at Toy Fair

10th January 2024

We are delighted to offer members two opportunities that we will be running at Toy Fair 2024. Safety Surgeries You may already be aware that as in some previous...

Environmental

Reforming the WEEE compliance system: a consultation and call for evidence published by Defra

10th January 2024

On the 28th December 2023, Defra published and opened a consultation and a call for evidence on the reform of The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013. The government...

Latest News

BTHA starts its 80th anniversary with a new look

3rd January 2024

We are excited to celebrate the BTHA's 80th anniversary throughout 2024 and mark the occasion with the launch of a modernised logo and branding to reflect the work of the association...