Amazon and eBay are removing disposable barbecues from sale after several products were found online despite Andy Burnham's ban. The Mirror discovered several disposable and instant grills could still be found on both sites in the hours after the PM ordered emergency Government restrictions on the items. They pose a significant fire risk in "tinderbox" conditions gripping England and Wales, which have seen a record number of serious incidents related to consecutive blazes.
Products still available for delivery
At around 8pm on Friday, Amazon was continuing to advertise disposable BBQs, with shoppers able to add them to their basket and receive delivery as early as Monday, August 17. While the company had removed these listings the following day, some remained by 5pm on August 15; a £7.45 Fair Trade Large Instant Barbecue and Instant Light Disposable Barbecue twin pack for £9.99.
Disposable barbecues also remained available on eBay, where listings seen by the Mirror were still offering customers the option to buy the products and similarly offered delivery from Monday. Listings posted on the site showed that one of the disposable barbecues had been viewed 50 times, with two others viewed 10 and seven times respectively - showing continued interest in the items despite the ban.
Retailers respond to government intervention
Both companies were made aware of multiple products they had remaining on their sites, and have now promised to remove the listings. It came despite several other major retailers, including The Range, Wilkinson and B&M, removing the products from their websites following the government intervention. The temporary restrictions were introduced as Andy Burnham warned Britain had become a "tinderbox" amid exceptionally hot and dry weather and a series of serious wildfires across the country.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds at the Department of Business and Trade told the Mirror: "We want everyone to enjoy summer safely. With wildfire risks exceptionally high, we’re taking common-sense steps to protect lives and the environment. Disposable barbecues pose an obvious threat in the extreme conditions we’re experiencing, so we’re telling retailers who haven’t already stopped selling them to do so now."
Government guidance and enforcement powers
Government guidance states disposable barbecues should not currently be made available either in stores or online. It also warns that regulators have powers to take action where the General Product Safety Regulations are not followed. The government posted statutory guidelines made by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and trade on disposable BBQs saying: "The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), as the UK’s national product regulator, and Local Authority Trading Standards, have powers to enforce the GPSR and there are sanctions, including criminal sanctions, for those that do not comply with the requirements. Disposable barbecues have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months. During the current drought and heatwave conditions, the government considers that the supply and subsequent foreseeable use of disposable barbecues poses a significant risk to the public, and the environment, and therefore cannot be considered a safe product. They should not be made available for supply either in store or online at the current time. These guidelines will be kept under review, and will be withdrawn in consultation with relevant departments and agencies, as weather conditions change sufficiently to significantly reduce the risks."
Emergency alert and ongoing wildfire response
The continued availability of the products came on the same evening millions of people across England and Wales were sent an emergency government warning over the wildfire threat. Phones sounded with a siren-like alert from around 7pm on Friday, with residents, landowners and visitors warned not to undertake activities which could spark another blaze. The alert read: "There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks. Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk."
People were also urged to follow official updates and report signs of fire immediately by calling 999. The unprecedented warning came as emergency services continued to face intense pressure from wildfires across the country following prolonged heat and dry conditions. The Government has stepped up its response in recent days, with 100 additional military personnel deployed to areas dealing with major incidents while firefighters continue to tackle active blazes.
The restrictions on disposable BBQs will remain under review and are expected to be withdrawn once weather conditions change sufficiently to reduce the risk of further fires. An eBay spokesperson said: "In line with the latest UK government guidance, eBay is removing listings for disposable barbecues from our UK marketplace and informing sellers of the ban. The safety of our customers and communities remains our priority." An Amazon spokesperson said: "In line with the government’s statutory guidance, we have removed all disposable BBQ products. We’re removing the highlighted products in question."
