EFIC advocates for a deeper harmonisation of the EU Internal Market, believes that untapped potential exists for European SMEs and that clear and easy legal requirements are essential. Companies operating in the furniture sector are faced with many obstacles which hinder them from focusing their power on exports. Different national regulations, standards, certification schemes and labelling requirements constitute a barrier for EU producers and bring disproportionate costs for companies. EFIC therefore calls for harmonised rules at European level and a level playing field for furniture producers.

 

To list some examples, EFIC looks forward to the harmonisation of a) formaldehyde emission levels in articles for consumer uses, of b) legislation on Flame Retardants, to a level where toxic flame retardants are not required to comply with national flammability standards and requirements, and c) to a harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for furniture at EU level. Last but not least, it is important that harmonised EU rules, such as the Timber Regulation, are applied in the same way by all Member States, to prevent time and resource intensive administrative burdens for companies.

 

Different initiatives and harmonisation requests have been brought forward by EFIC to overcome

these obstacles and to untap the full potential of our industries in the internal market.

Examples:

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• EFIC Manifesto 2019-2024

• Joint industry statement: Priorities for the Machinery Products Regulation

• EFIC feedback to TRIS notification 2020/410/F (France) - Decree on consumer information symbols indicating the sorting rule for waste resulting from products subject to the principle of extended producer responsibility

• EFIC position paper"Brexit potentially exacerbating barrier to furniture trade in Europe due to UK furniture flammability requirements"

• EFIC feedback to the Roadmap consultation on Intellectual Property Action Plan

• EFIC feedback to the Roadmap consultation on Chemical strategy for sustainability

• EFIC Position Paper on the revision of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC - 13 May 2020

• Alliance for Flame Retardant Free Furniture position paper - 15 April 2020

• EFIC contribution to the implementation of the WEEE2 Directive in the EU Member States

• EFIC contribution to the evaluation of the EU Timber Regulation

• Forest-Based Industries Vision 2020

• Alliance for Flame Retardant Free Furniture Policy Paper - 18 November 2019

• EFIC contribution to the development of standards for electrically motorized furniture at European (CEN & CENELEC) and International level (IEC)

• EFIC Position Paper on the draft Decision of the Greek Ministry of Economy and Development on "Marketing conditions for children's furniture for sleeping and relevant accompanying equipment"

• EFIC contribution to the ECHA restriction proposal for formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers in mixtures and articles for consumer uses

• EFIC Position Paper on the revision of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and relative Guidelines

• EFIC Position Paper on the the Mutual Recognition Regulation 2017/0354 COD

• Alliance for Flame Retardant Free Furniture

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