The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is partnering with The Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Child Accident Prevention Trust, British Retail Consortium, British Toy and Hobby Association, and partners within the NHS to produce magnets safety messages on how to keep children and teenagers safe.

The public are encouraged to support the magnets safety messages by retweeting and posting them on social media, using the hashtag #magnetsafety, or sharing our campaign materials.

How to keep children safe

Check your home

If you have toys or adult desk toys with small magnets, a magnetic sphere construction set, or keep magnets on your fridge, then move them out of the reach of small children. If a toy is faulty and magnets have come loose, get it fixed or dispose of it safely. Don’t attach magnets to glassware as they can become loose and then easily swallowed. Report any product that you think is unsafe to your local Trading Standards team.

Talk to children about the dangers

Using magnetic products as fake piercings, on the tongue, mouth or nose, increases the risk of inhalation or ingestion. Discuss with children and teenagers why small high-powered magnets are dangerous, and why they shouldn’t use them as fake piercings on their body, or as decorative items on glassware.

If you suspect your child has swallowed magnets

If you think your child has swallowed a magnet, take them straight to the nearest A&E or call 999 for an ambulance.

Symptoms may not be obvious. Your child might:

Unclear or fluctuating symptoms mean it’s important to be vigilant.

Download digital images for use on social media from our My Safety: Magnets guidance page

Emma Wade-Smith OBE has today been appointed Her Majesty’s Consul General to New York and Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for North America.

Wade-Smith – who is currently HM Trade Commissioner for Africa and has previously held senior diplomatic roles in the US – will begin in November 2021. She will lead on promoting British trade and investment in the US and Canada, with the aim of accelerating job creation and opportunities across the UK, and working with businesses across North America to support growth and innovation.

The UK collaborates intensively with New York across a wide range of spheres, including arts, science, sports and education. As Consul General New York, Wade-Smith will work to support and strengthen these diverse partnerships between the UK and the US across the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, as well as supporting British nationals in this wide region.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

I’m delighted to welcome Emma as Trade Commissioner for North America and HM Consul General in New York. She will bring a wealth of experience and insight to the roles as we look to deepen our economic, cultural and diplomatic ties in the region.

I look forward to working with her to break down barriers to trade and support jobs, growth and opportunities for our superb British businesses.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

The UK’s partnership with North America is vital for delivering jobs, growth, and a free and secure world.

Emma brings a wealth of knowledge from her previous role, and will continue to strengthen our political, economic and cultural links in New York – whilst deepening transatlantic ties between the UK and our allies.

Boosted by the expected lifting of US travel restrictions, Emma will play a vital role in taking the relationship between the UK and North America to the next level as we forge ahead with a forward-looking Global Britain.

The UK and US enjoy a thriving trade and investment relationship, with 1.4 million people in the UK working for US firms and 1.2 million people in America working for British companies, making the UK the biggest foreign employer in the US. The US is also the UK’s largest single trading partner, with total trade reaching £196.3 billion in 2020.

Canada is an important strategic partner for the UK, with total trade reaching £17.7 billion last year, and we look forward to building on our relationship, including through a more ambitious UK-Canada trade agreement and through future membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Emma Wade-Smith OBE, HM Trade Commissioner for North America and Consul General New York, said:

I am thrilled to be appointed as Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and Consul General New York.

Supporting, enabling, and developing stronger business links between the UK and North America is critical to creating more jobs and spurring sustainable economic growth for both sides of the Atlantic. Together we can help and promote our world-class companies to build cleaner and more inclusive economies that we want to live and work in, including through innovation in digital, tech and clean growth.

I am committed to using my energy, experience and enthusiasm to lead our trade and investment work across North America, as well as bring creativity and drive to furthering the education, science, arts and people links between the UK and the States of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Notes to Editors

• Emma Wade-Smith replaces Antony Phillipson, who was appointed High Commissioner to South Africa, earlier this year.
• A full biography of Emma Wade-Smith’s previous roles can be found here

About Consul General New York

The Consul General in New York is responsible for the UK’s diplomatic network in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and parts of Connecticut. As well representing the UK in these states, including the cities of New York and Philadelphia, the HM Consul General is responsible for supporting British nationals and strengthening political, cultural and business relations between the region and the UK

About HMTCs

HMTCs work closely with HM Ambassadors and High Commissioners, the wider diplomatic network, and other HM Government colleagues based in countries in their region, in a joined-up and coordinated government effort overseas to promote UK trade and prosperity.

In total, there will be 9 geographical areas that the HM Trade Commissioners cover:

• Africa
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• Eastern Europe and Central Asia Network
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East
• North America
• South Asia

The number of temporary poultry workers permitted to travel to and work in the UK will increase in time for Christmas, the government has announced today (Sunday 26 September).

Up to 5,500 poultry workers will be able to work in the UK ahead of Christmas 2021. This will be delivered through the Temporary Workers route.

This comes as the Department for Transport announced that up to 5,000 drivers will be able to come to the UK to transport food and fuel in the run-up to Christmas.

The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain which has coped well in responding to unprecedented challenges. The decision will ensure that farmers and food producers have access to the necessary workforce to mitigate any potential risks to Christmas food supply.

Recruitment for additional short-term HGV drivers and poultry workers will begin in October and this route will be valid until 24 December 2021. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), working with the Department for Transport and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will process applications, once made, in a timely manner.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

It is a top priority to ensure that there are enough workers across the country’s supply chains to make sure they remain strong and resilient.

We have listened to concerns from the sector and we are acting to alleviate what is a very tight labour market.

The Food and Drink Federation’s Chief Executive, Ian Wright CBE, said:

We welcome the Government’s pragmatic decision to temporarily add HGV drivers and poultry workers to the existing visa scheme.

This is something UK food and drink manufacturers have asked for over the last few months – including in industry’s Grant Thornton report – to alleviate some of the pressure labour shortages have placed on the food supply chain.

This is a start but we need the Government to continue to collaborate with industry and seek additional long term solutions.

British Poultry Council chief executive Richard Griffiths said:

The Government’s move to allow temporary workers for the poultry meat sector will be welcomed by seasonal producers.

Temporary workers from outside the UK have long been vital to delivering Christmas for our sector and given the unprecedented challenges of the last year they are needed more than ever. British turkey and goose are the centrepiece of Christmas dinners across the country and we are pleased that Government has listened.

Seasonal labour has played an important role to address the challenges that the agri-food industry has faced in recent months because of the Covid-19 pandemic and labour shortages, and Defra has been working closely with the industry during this time.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has implemented an unprecedented package of measures to support workers and businesses right across the UK, as well as new reforms to ensure businesses have access to talent from across the world, so that we can Build Back Better from the pandemic and support the national economic recovery.

We are moving to a high wage, high skilled economy and the government is encouraging all sectors, including poultry, to adapt and make employment more attractive to UK domestic workers through offering training, careers options and wage increases and, to help with these efforts and long-term resilience, Defra is working with industry and DWP to raise awareness of career opportunities in poultry among UK workers.