Compliance in the branded merchandise sector has historically been something of a grey area for importers and manufacturers.

Today, however, responsible suppliers – and trade bodies such as the BPMA, which helps educate its members about compliance – are making the industry a safer and more reliable place. Suppliers of branded merchandise are no longer mainly concerned about price – ethical sourcing, safety and compliance have become key issues.

What The Legislation Says

• The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. This EU directive concerns waste from packaging plus potentially dangerous chemicals and metals like lead, cadmium and mercury. It sets EU members targets for waste recovery and recycling.
• Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). This concerns risks from chemicals to human health and the environment. It includes a (changing) list of substances banned from products in Europe.
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. This applies to all electrical and electronic equipment sold (or placed) in the UK, which means importers must share the financial responsibility for disposal and recycling.
• Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) – electrical and electronic equipment. The latest update came into force on 2 January 2013.
• General Product Safety Directive. This concerns EU consumer products not covered by specific legislation, i.e., toys and chemicals. It is expected to be superseded by the Consumer Product Safety Regulation (CPSR).

These are just a sample of the regulations but show that compliance in branded merchandise is an important and complex issue for all players in the supply chain.

Arcadia takes compliance seriously. We will always try to protect clients against any pitfalls and ensure that the promotional merchandise we supply is compliant and ethically sourced. We constantly review our compliance policy and take into account any relevant laws and regulations. Products imported by Arcadia are tested and inspected to all relevant standards by an independent testing house such as SGS.

Make Memorable Merchandise

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Jason Markwick

Having worked in Promotional Merchandise for the last 25 years I have been exposed to all aspects of the industry. Starting out as an account manager working with some of the worlds leading brands, I have learnt to understand the needs of a client, manufacturing processes, and what it takes to deliver a successful promotional campaign that is on brand, on time and within a given budget.