The new Offensive Weapons Act (OWA2019), which includes new laws on the retailing of bladed items is scheduled to come into force on or around April 6 2022, according to government advise given to BHETA (The British Home Enhancement Trade Association). The association’s knives steering group will meet tomorrow (Friday February 11) to discuss the implications on the industry.
The Statutory Guidance provides interpretation on selling products to under eighteens and remotely. The OWA currently includes any kitchen kniferegardless of size or design, including cutlery knives and bread knives.
Thanks to lobbying by BHETA in the run up to the act, scissors are now excluded completely, while cutlery knives, pizza cutters and small cheeseknives are now explicitly listed as being ‘unlikely’ to be considered part of the Act for online sales.
Suppliers and retailers of knives must now ensure they are compliant with the new laws, meaning that there is clearly marked product packaging plus robust age verification system at point of purchase (whether in store and online). Sellers of bladed products need to ensure that a delivered packageis handed over to a person aged eighteen or over and is not delivered to a locker.
“I am pleased that the Government has stuck to its plan to provide the industry with a notice period, which is one of the points about which BHETA has been lobbying – and that certain products are excluded,” states BHETA’s chief operating officer Will Jones, who chairs the steering group.
He continues: “I am disappointed that cutlery remains within the scope of the new OWA, but our meeting will continue to advise on planning and the practical measures which the home enhancement industry can take to achieve a result that is both workable and responsible.”
Leading retailers and suppliers participating in BHETA’s consultative steering group include John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Dunelm, T K Maxx, Morleys Group, Harts of Stur, Taylor’s Eye Witness, Meyer UK, Haus, Burton McCall, Kuhn Rikon, The Rayware Group and Robert Welch Designs. BHETA has also been collaborating with the Metropolitan Police on the responsible sale of knives since summer 2019.
* For more information about BHETA responsible knife retailing campaign contact the BHETA member services team on 0121 237 1130 or visit the BHETA website www.bheta.co.uk.
Top: Parcelforce is one of the companies that offer age verified deliveries for bladed products.
