'Blushing' online firm may move

Blushingbuyer.co.uk fears it may have to relocate to England

An internet medical company, which deals in products people are "too shy to buy" over the counter, has warned that it may be forced out of Wales.

From April, companies like Newport-based OneNilTrade will be able to operate as online pharmacies in England but not in Wales.

The assembly government has decided not to allow companies based in Wales to sell products over the internet.

It said the decision had been taken to protect small and rural pharmacies.

In order to compete, with the regulations as they stand at the moment, we will need to move to England Steve Aicheler

OneNilTrade, which trades as blushingbuyer.co.uk, said business is booming and the firm, set up in 2000, has outgrown its present site.

It sells items that people may be embarrassed to buy over the counter, from hair removal creams to contraceptives, as well as a range of what it calls "saucy gifts and sexy fun".

But managing director Steve Aicheler said the business will have to move to England.

"It isn't something we want to do," he said.

'No benefits'

"We've been based in Wales since we started the business - I live in Wales, my staff live in Wales, but in order to compete, with the regulations as they stand at the moment, we will need to move to England."

A spokesperson for the Welsh Assembly Government said that the decision was made in order "to protect small pharmacies in both rural and deprived urban areas, which would otherwise be vulnerable to unfettered competition."

That view is supported by Steve Symmonds of Community Pharmacy Wales.

Mr Symmonds said: "Community pharmacies, along with village shops and post offices are essential components of a healthy community.

"Internet pharmacies offer no benefits, in terms of cost, speed or convenience compared to the service offered by community pharmacies."

The assembly government has confirmed it is in discussions with interested parties to develop what it describes as "a right policy for Wales."

The company was a regional winner in e-commerce awards in 2002 and has received support from the Welsh Development Agency.

It was set up by two Cardiff University graduates with the help of £10,000 funding from education and training body Elwa.

At the time, an assembly government spokesman defended the grant against criticism that it was funding a sex shop on the internet.

"This is about enterprise," she said. "It is not a seedy sex site, it sells products to shy people."