Supermarkets banned from selling ‘non-essential’ goods during firebreak lockdown

Supermarkets will not be able to sell ‘non-essential’ products during Wales’ firebreak lockdown, which is set to start at 6pm tonight (Friday, October 13).

This includes items such as clothes and electronics, but an exact list of what is considered ‘essential’ or ‘non-essential’ has not been released.

The move was confirmed by First Minister Mark Drakeford in a Senedd committee session on Thursday (October 22).

The First Minister said it would ensure a “more level playing field”.

As part of the firebreak lockdown, all non-essential shops will have to close.

Supermarkets, newsagents, off-licences, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, post offices, laundrettes, garages and pet shops will all remain open, but clothes shops and electrical goods stores, for example, will all have to shut.

The firebreak lockdown was announced by Mr Drakeford on Monday (October 19) in an attempt to drive down the coronavirus infection rate in Wales.

However, in an open letter to the First Minister, the Welsh Retail Consortium and the Association of Convenience Stores have called for these rules to be overturned, saying Welsh Government “must not dictate what people can buy in shops”.

The move has also drawn criticism from the Welsh Conservatives.