ENVIRONMENTALLY minded customers are annoyed over changes to the “refill system” at a popular shop.

People can top up their shower gels, shampoo and conditioner at Infinity Foods in North Road, Brighton, in their own containers to limit plastic waste.

But, to conform to regulations, the shop has announced customers will only be allowed to refill if the container is the exact brand – including the perfume – that they are refilling.

One irate customer, who did not want to be named, said it was a “backwards act that will only deepen the impact we are having on our planet”.

He said: “I was shocked at hearing this and find it difficult to believe that Trading Standards would impose such a ruling when there is a big push for us to reduce our use of single-use plastics and packaging.”

A spokesman for Infinity Foods said the move came from “a clarification in the current law from Trading Standards”.

He said: “We are aware that many customers have had the same bottle for many years, saving on hundreds of bottles of plastic, but unfortunately we have had to make these changes.

“We are offering customers until the end of 2019 a ten per cent discount on a new refillable product and we will ensure old bottles will be recycled responsibly.”

“The laws are to ensure the integrity of the container and correct labelling of the product, these laws only apply to cleaning products and cosmetics and will not be affecting dry food refills.

“In the past we have had old water bottles and milk bottles refills with cleaning products which pose a danger to the public through possible ingestion.”

Brighton and Hove Trading standards officers will be speaking to shops around the city to ensure they are following the rule.

Rules and regulations are often enforced by National Trading Standards (NTS).

NTS aims to protect consumers by ensuring products are safe to eat or use.

Those who are found to be in breach of rules can face a punishment.

Trading Standards offences are usually be punished with a fine and in many cases the amount is unlimited.

But for the most serious cases imprisonment is an option, with some offences carrying up to two years imprisonment.

Infinity Foods celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2016.

The shop was the brainchild of local teenagers Peter Deadman and Ian Loeffler in the late 1960s.

It started as a health food cafe at the University of Sussex called Biting Through.

The Infinity Foods spokesman added: “We offer a full range of completely plastic-free cleaning products, including Planet Detox, a soap bar and powder range which work excellently around the home, great for if you want to skip out plastic all together.

“There are many ways to be compliant with the law, but this is a way that we have found to make sure our customers are safe and we are protected within the law.”

Trading Standards was contacted for comment.