Major UK supermarkets are removing disposable barbecues from their shelves in response to rising wildfire concerns, with Tesco and Sainsbury’s among the chains that have stopped selling the single-use grills.
Asda has become the latest retailer to take the products out of its stores this week. The supermarkets’ actions are understood to be in line with voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council, which has recommended that shops suspend sales of disposable barbecues during periods when the danger of wildfires is especially high.
The retail decisions come as farmers, landowners and firefighters step up their campaign for a temporary ban on disposable barbecues in England and Wales. Those supporting the ban argue that the lightweight grills can easily ignite dry grass, heathland and other vegetation, and that a fire which begins in open countryside can spread quickly, posing a risk to rural communities, farmland and wildlife.
The call has won political backing from the Liberal Democrats and many Labour MPs. It also comes as much of England continues to face hot and dry weather, despite some rain in places. The dry conditions have left large areas of the country increasingly vulnerable to fire, and emergency services are worried that a single discarded barbecue could be enough to start a serious blaze.
The guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council is voluntary, meaning supermarkets are not legally required to follow it. It reflects concerns that disposable barbecues can easily start a blaze in dry conditions. The fact that several major chains have nonetheless chosen to act reflects the seriousness with which both retailers and the fire service now view the threat posed by disposable barbecues.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s are among the most prominent names to have taken the products off the shelves, and Asda’s decision this week means that several of the country’s biggest grocery retailers have now moved in the same direction.
For farmers and landowners, the supermarket action is a step in the right direction, but they argue that a formal temporary prohibition would offer stronger protection. A legal ban, they say, would ensure that disposable barbecues are not sold anywhere in England and Wales during high-risk periods, rather than leaving the decision to individual retailers. That argument has been echoed by the Liberal Democrats and the Labour MPs who have joined the call for government action.
Firefighters are among those warning that the risk is serious, with much of England expected to remain hot and dry in the coming period. Although some areas have experienced rain, the broader outlook is one of continuing fire danger. The supermarkets’ decision to act voluntarily is a sign that retailers are taking the warnings seriously, but the government is now facing growing calls to match the retailers’ action with a formal temporary ban. For now, shoppers at several of the UK’s biggest supermarkets will not find disposable barbecues on sale.
