Bira is calling on the Government to make shops selling baby goods 'essential'.

Retailers selling predominantly baby goods are currently deemed 'non-essential' in England, and are required to close in the latest national lockdown. This is despite it being against the law for a newborn to leave hospital without a car seat - a fact recognised in Wales, Italy and Germany, which deem baby equipment stores 'essential'.

Bira is now backing a campaign set up by one of its members, who runs a baby equipment store. The member has launched petition to have the guidance changed, outlining that 'nursery stores sell life-saving and legally required items such as car seats'.

Andrew Goodacre, Bira's CEO, said: "There seems to be an unfortunate paradox in the guidelines for essential shops where an off-licence is seen as more important than a shop providing essential products  for parents and babies.

"Does this really represent our values in society at the moment? Wales has addressed this and we are calling on the English Government to add baby equipment shops to the 'essential' list. We need to get our priorities right for once."

Sign the petition here

Additional Guidance and Resources

• What are the rules?: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Bira concerned Treasury’s funding package will not be enough to sustain retailers
• Treasury announces £4.6 billion in lockdown grants
• New national lockdown in England announced
• Protecting your retail business through Christmas and beyond
• Five ways to promote your retail business during lockdown…for free
• A quick and easy guide to Click and Collect for retailers

Join Bira today