Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 14 September 2025

This week’s regulatory developments in order of importance, so you can ensure you're up to date with the latest changes impacting your business.

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Retail, Food & Hospitality Important updates

Regulations introduced to exempt ‘brands’ from advertising controls on less healthy foods: On 10^th September, following consultation, the Department of Health and Social Care introduced regulations to exempt the use of brand names from TV and online advertising controls on high fat, salt and sugar foods in force from 5^th January 2026. View >

HSE identifies serious gaps found in protection of workers from noise at work: The Health and Safety Executive has found in an inspection campaign serious failings with equipment and training in the protection of workers from noise at work. At high-noise workplaces, more than 75% of employees lacked essential knowledge about storing hearing protection, checking for damage, or reporting equipment faults to employers. Nearly two-thirds (63%) had not received guidance on the critical importance of wearing protection continuously during exposure to harmful noise levels. Training deficiencies were particularly evident, with 80% of employees receiving no instruction on proper wearing techniques. 95% of employers had failed to verify whether workers wearing hearing protection could still detect vital warning signals, including fire alarms and vehicle reversing alerts. View >

Watchdog rulings on alcohol advertising published: The Advertising Standards Authority has published rulings on alcohol advertising by Heineken and Jagermeister.

In the case of Heineken, the ASA had received a complaint that advertising featuring a talking strawberry cider can trying to convince a man to go to a BBQ rather than focussing on writing his wedding vows implied that alcohol might be indispensable or take priority in life contrary to the code. The ASA considered the ad portrayed alcohol as being more important than personal relationships and a significant life event, and therefore implied that alcohol was indispensable and took priority in life contrary to the code. View >
Jägermeister advertising for ‘Manifest’ identified by ASA monitoring used the strap line ‘Manifesting the best nights of your life’. The ASA ruled that the advertising implied that alcohol was a key component of social success contrary to the advertising codes. View >

OFCOM Publish update on investigation of web site age restrictions: OFCOM has published the names of five further porn site operators it is investigating with regard to the adequacy of the age of sale controls they have in place. This brings the number of businesses under formal investigation so far to 52. View >

EU updates

EU Decisions:

Postponing the expiry dates for biocidal product ingredients: azoxystrobin > copper pyrithione > ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate > imidacloprid > lauric acid > pythium oligandrum strain M1 > transfluthrin > Zineb > 4,5-Dichloro-2-octly-2H-isothiozol-3 >
Designating standards for ‘wave roller’ ride on toys: View >

EU Regulations:

Authorising feed additives: bifidobacterium longum > capsaicin > riboflavin (Vitamin B2) >
Delisting biocide approvals: Nordkalk QL90 > Nordkalk QL 0-0,1 >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

Rejecting health claim for calcium sulphate and reduction in body weight: View >
Peer review of pesticide risk assessment: Pinoxaden >

Developments to watch

DEFRA: Publish updates on disease outbreaks as of 12 September. Blue tongue > Avian flu >

DEFRA: Introduce biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction bill to parliament. This bill will provide the legal framework to enable the UK to meet the obligations of the international BBNJ Agreement, which is required before the UK can ratify the agreement. View >

DEFRA: Publish details of guidance to Health and Safety Executive to prevent the emergency authorisation of neonicotinoid pesticides. View >

For your information

Non-food product safety alerts: Office for Product Safety and Standards > EU Safety Gate > US Consumer Product Safety Commission >

Payment Systems Regulator: Responds to HMT consultation on its absorption into the Financial Conduct Authority. View >

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