Welsh Government will today meet supermarket chiefs as pressure grows on them to drop the ban on the sale of non-essential goods.
Under the firebreak lockdown regulations the government put a halt on supermarkets selling items like clothing, toys, books and electrical goods.
They said this was to help limit unnecessary trips to shops and also provide a level playing field with those businesses selling the same products who were forced to close in the 17 day firebreak.
But there has been a huge backlash as picture of aisles and shelves being taped over or blocked off have been shared on social media.
A Senedd petition calling for the ban to be reversed has received 60,000 signatures.
Ministers will today hold meetings with supermarket bosses.
It is understood supermarkets will be told they will have greater discretion over what is banned
First minister Mark Drakeford told ITV: “They will want to do the right thing, I know, and our job is to be alongside them to make sure that is clear for everybody."
But for many this will not go far enough.
Conservative MP for Clwyd West, David Jones has been a critic of the ban.
He said this morning: "I hope that supermarkets point out the regulations and guidance are unclear, inadequate and of dubious propriety, and that Welsh Government undertake to clarify or, preferably, withdraw them."
The Federation of Small Businesses had called for the ban to offer a level playing field.
Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair, said: “These are incredibly difficult times for businesses of all sizes, and businesses are grappling with sometimes complex regulations but we welcome the acknowledgement by Welsh Government of the need for restrictions to be fairly applied.
"We hope that firms are all able to move forwards together at the end of the firebreak and exploit as many opportunities to safely boost trade during the festive season."
But Sara Jones, head of the WRC, said: "Compelling retailers to stop selling certain items, without them being told clearly what is and what isn’t permitted to be sold, is ill-conceived and short-sighted.
"We hope ministers will rethink this particular part of their fire breaker plan.”
