Staffordshire Trading Standards is reminding retailers about the temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues to help reduce the risk of wildfires.
The reminder follows Government guidance which states that disposable barbecues cannot currently be considered a safe product due to the increased risk of wildfires and environmental damage caused by the exceptionally hot and dry weather. The temporary ban applies to sales both in-store and online.
Trading Standards officers are asking retailers to remove disposable barbecues from sale and to refrain from supplying them until the temporary ban is lifted.
Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council said:
The prolonged period of hot, dry weather we’ve seen over the summer has created a significant risk of fires across our countryside, parks and open spaces.
Disposable barbecues have been linked to a number of wildfires including one at Cannock Chase earlier this month, and the current conditions mean that the risks are higher than normal.
The temporary ban of them will help reduce the risk of wildfires, protect our communities and safeguard our local environment until conditions improve."
Retailers should continue to monitor Government guidance and await further updates before making disposable barbecues available for sale again. Guidance is available on the Government’s business regulation webpage.
Businesses can get further advice from Staffordshire Trading Standards.
