Statutory Guidelines On Disposable BBQs
In response to the current droughts and heatwave, the Government has introduced statutory guidelines in relation to the supply of disposable BBQs.
About these guidelines
These statutory guidelines are made by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
They must be taken into account by retailers and distributors of disposable barbecues in ensuring they do not supply products that they know or ought to know to be dangerous, in line with their legal requirements under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) as it applies in Great Britain (GB).
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 These guidelines will be kept under review, and will be withdrawn in consultation with relevant departments and agencies, as weather conditions change sufficiently to significantly reduce the risks.
1. Who these guidelines are for
1.1 These statutory guidelines are for producers and distributors, including retailers that make disposable barbecues available on the GB market. This includes making available online.
1.2 These guidelines are made by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade under regulation 6(3)(c) of the GPSR. They must be taken into account by businesses when assessing whether a disposable barbecue meets the general safety requirement under regulation 5 of the GPSR.
1.3 These guidelines will be used by regulators to help determine whether producers and distributors are complying with their legal responsibilities under GPSR.
2. Products in scope of these guidelines
2.1 These guidelines apply to all disposable barbecues. A disposable barbecue is a product designed for domestic single-use only, outdoors, not intended for re-filling or reuse. Comprising of fuel tray, grill grid and including charcoal fuel sufficient to provide sufficient cooking temperature for the duration of a single cooking episode.
3. Regulatory position on safe products under GPSR
3.1 To be considered safe under GPSR, a product must not present any risk or only the minimum risks compatible with the product’s use, considered to be acceptable and consistent with a high level of protection for the safety and health of persons, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
3.2 The Government’s view is that reasonably foreseeable uses of disposable barbecues during an extreme heat event or drought pose an unacceptable risk to the safety and health of the public.
3.3 Therefore, disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions, and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time.
4. Producer responsibilities
4.1 The GPSR sets out the obligations of ‘producers’. This includes businesses that manufacture and import products. The definition of a ‘producer’ is set out in Regulation 2 of the GPSR.
4.2 Before placing a product on the market, producers must ensure that it is safe. This means, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, the product does not present any risk or presents only the minimum risk compatible with the product’s use, and which is considered acceptable and consistent with a high level of protection of health and safety.
5. Distributor responsibilities
5.1 The GPSR sets out the obligations on distributors of products. The definition of a distributor is set out in regulation 2 of the GPSR and includes online marketplaces when acting as a distributor.
5.2 Distributors are required to act with due care to help ensure only safe products are supplied on the market. Distributors must not supply products that they know or ought to know to be dangerous.
5.3 Distributors must also cooperate with enforcement authorities at their request. This includes providing information they hold relating to risks posed by a product and enabling the product’s identity and origin to be traced. Distributors must take appropriate action to remove the risk from consumers such as withdrawing dangerous products from the market.
6. Legal requirements
6.1 The GPSR provides the basis for ensuring the safety of consumer products by setting out safety requirements and obligations that businesses must meet.
6.2 The legal basis for issuing these guidelines is regulation 6(3)(c) of the GPSR as it applies in GB, which makes provision for the Secretary of State to set guidelines on assessing a specific product’s safety for the purposes of GPSR.
6.3 These guidelines must be taken into account by businesses in assessing whether disposable barbecues meet the requirements of GPSR as they apply in GB.
6.4 Where businesses involved in the production or distribution of products in scope of these guidelines do not take account of them when placing such products on the market, they will be in breach of their responsibilities under the GPSR.
6.5 In addition, following these guidelines is strongly recommended for businesses producing or distributing such products placed on the Northern Ireland market.
7. Non-compliance with the regulatory requirements
7.1 OPSS and Local Authorities have powers to enforce the requirements in the GPSR, including the requirement for products to be safe.
7.2 Where there is evidence of non-compliance with the GPSR, authorities will be able to take action against producers and distributors, including when having taken due account of the precautionary principle. Action could include requiring businesses to recall products from consumers, suspend supply of products, warn customers about risks, or withdraw products from sale.
7.3 Producers and distributors are required to cooperate with enforcement authority requests in relation to action taken to mitigate risks posed to consumers by a product, including providing information and documentation upon request.
7.4 Where businesses breach certain obligations under GPSR, and it is appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances of the breach, enforcement authorities may initiate prosecution proceedings and, if found guilty of an offence, the person or persons responsible could face an imprisonment sentence and/or financial penalty.
8. Further information
The British Retail Consortium has produced voluntary guidelines to encourage retailers to educate consumers on safe use and disposal of disposable BBQs and prevent the spread of wildfires caused by them: BRC Updated Voluntary Guidelines for Disposable BBQs - 2026
For further information on the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 as they apply in Great Britain, please refer to:
- General Product Safety Regulations 2005 – legislation.gov.uk
- Guidance on the General Product Safety Regulations 2005
For information about OPSS’ approach to delivering regulation, please refer to:
Enquiries in relation to this guidance should be directed to: opss.enquiries@businessandtrade.gov.uk