Staffordshire Trading Standards is reminding retailers across the county to stop selling disposable barbecues while a temporary ban remains in place. The ban applies to all sales, both in-store and online.
The action follows Government guidance which states that disposable barbecues cannot currently be considered safe due to the increased risk of wildfires and environmental damage caused by exceptionally hot and dry weather.
Link to Cannock Chase wildfire
Disposable barbecues have been linked to a number of wildfires including one at Cannock Chase earlier this month. Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, said the prolonged hot, dry weather has created significant fire risk across the county's countryside, parks and open spaces.
"The temporary ban of them will help reduce the risk of wildfires, protect our communities and safeguard our local environment until conditions improve," Screen said.
What retailers should do
Trading Standards officers are asking retailers to remove disposable barbecues from sale and to refrain from supplying them until the temporary ban is lifted. Retailers should continue to monitor Government guidance and await further updates before making disposable barbecues available for sale again.
Businesses can get further advice from Staffordshire Trading Standards, and guidance is available on the Government's business regulation webpage.
