These Regulations were introduced after a rash of house fires and the infamous Woolworths fire in Manchester in 1979. Products containing a baby or young child, including pushchairs, prams and car seats, were brought into scope because a parent or carer might bring a sleeping child indoors still in the product.

For 37 years, manufacturers had to subject products to processes beyond the safety standards used across the rest of Europe.

Separate SKUs were required for the UK market, increasing manufacturing and stock-handling costs. The flame-retardant treatment also changed the feel of products, making covering fabrics stiffer and less tactile.

The existence of these Regulations also contributed to an increase in grey imports.

In 2009, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced a revision of the Regulations, and the first stakeholder meeting was held in January 2010. The Baby Products Association attended every stakeholder meeting as responsibility moved across DTI, BERR, BIS, BEIS and later the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Each departmental change created delays while new staff got up to speed.

During this period, the Association conducted research into fire deaths in the UK, contributed to independent research by the Environmental Audit Committee and Oakdene Hollins, and lobbied incoming ministers. It also pressed Government to implement the recommendations, of independent reports into the effect of chemicals used in the production of consumer products on humans and the environment and proposed the immediate removal of baby products from scope.

The Association contributed to three consultations and encouraged members and non-members to respond, even sharing wording that could be reused. When Government failed to publish the responses to the second consultation for more than two and a half years, the Association launched a Freedom of Information Act request.

In 2019, OPSS announced that a new approach regulation would eventually replace the old framework, with essential safety requirements underpinned by standards. The Association ensured that it secured a place on the relevant BSI committee, but recognising that standards development would take years, it continued to press Government to revise the current Regulations immediately.

Finally, in 2023, Government announced a consultation to amend the current Regulations and proposed removing the majority of baby products. The Association responded with support for that removal, backed by wider industry support. It also met with OPSS lead Richard Jude and queried products missing from the exclusion list, which was then updated.