Morrisons & Sainsbury's told to make major change to stores as government warns supermarkets ‘stop promoting' product
SAINSBURY'S and Morrisons have received a stern warning from the government in relation to a popular product.
The two major chains have been instructed to stop 'promoting' the item as they could be in breach of the law.
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According to the BBC, the two supermarkets received a letter instructing them to remove any adverts which displayed heated tobacco products.
Heated tobacco differs from cigarettes and vapes as it uses an electrical current to directly warm up the tobacco.
This produces a vapour which can be inhaled.
Smoking advertisements were banned in 2002 by the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The ban covered any products which could be "smoked, sniffed, sucked or chewed".
Since the heated tobacco products produce a vapour - not a smoke - advertising laws are much murkier.
Speaking about the letter, a spokesperson for Sainsbury's said: 'We offer a range of age-restricted products under our strict Think25 policy, including this heated tobacco device which is advertised.
'This is an alternative to cigarettes and is fully compliant with current legislation. We recognise the deeply complex and emotive nature of this topic.
'We remain in close contact with the Government and industry partners and are planning our transition to ensure we also comply with planned incoming legislation."
A spokesperson for Morrisons said: "We only received a letter at the end of May.
"We are just in the process of reviewing it and will respond back to the Department for Health and Social Care in due course."
The Department of Social Care have been approached for comment by The Sun.
Starmer CONFIRMS smoking ban plan with cigarettes to be banished from pub gardens
Previously, a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson told the BBC: "In May, we wrote to supermarkets reiterating that the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002… applies to all tobacco products currently on the market, and formally requested they stop advertising and promoting heated tobacco products in stores.
"All tobacco products are harmful to health."
The proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill will tighten existing advertisement laws and has received the backing of prominent Labour politicians, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Baroness Meron.
So far, the bill has passed in the House of Commons and awaits the approval of the House of Lords.
Another key component of the bill is a proposed ban on the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009.
It is hoped that this will create a "smokefree generation', driving down cancer rates and other health problems.
The move was aimed to prevent young people from buying the single-use devices and becoming addicted to tobacco.
Traders who continue selling the product face a £200 fine and repeat offenders face prison time.
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