NAFD establishes new European Cross Party Parliamentary Group
After setting up the European Liaison Group in March 2007 to address European funeral issues, the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) has taken the decision to upgrade the ad hoc committee to a Cross Party Parliamentary Group in Brussels.
NAFD Past President Nigel Lymn Rose and Chief Executive Officer Alan Slater, Dodge Group Chairman Adrian Haler and Christopher Henley, who is the NAFD representative at the European Federation of Funeral Services, will lead the new Group on behalf of the NAFD.
The Group is being formed with the assistance of Malcolm Harbour MEP – Conservative spokesman on Internal Market issues and a member of the Industry, Research and Energy, and Internal Market Committee – and will be advised by Robert Goodwill MP. Formerly MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, Mr Goodwill is Shadow Minister for Transport and is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Funerals and Bereavement Group at Westminster.
It is anticipated that biannual meetings with Commissioners, MEPs and senior British civil servants will take place at the European Parliament.
“This is a significant development for the UK funeral profession because an increasing amount of the legislation that affects us emanates from Brussels, especially in the key areas of environment and health, so it is absolutely essential that we are able to influence the drafting of legislation before it reaches Westminster,” says Alan Slater.
“The current Biodirective regarding the future use of Formaldehyde is a classic case in point. The European Union is proposing to withdraw Formaldehyde-based embalming fluids because of their toxicity, and if the Biodirective is implemented it will have a major impact on the way UK funeral directors carry out their duties.
“The NAFD is lobbying for Formaldehyde to be retained as a niche product, but we believe we could have exerted our influence at an earlier stage if there had been a Parliamentary Group in place.”
