Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 26 October 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

Businesses asked to highlight unnecessary activity and opportunity burdens of regulation: The Department for Business and Trade has launched a call for evidence from business ‘Unlocking Business: Reform driven by you’ to identify regulations that cause unnecessary burdens or prevent opportunities for growth in a claimed attempt to cut the burden of regulation by 25%. Responses are required by 16^th December. A new dashboard which will allow the public to scrutinise regulator’s performance has also been announced as part of a strengthened growth duty for regulators. The Business Secretary / Ministers are also to meet with watchdog bosses, including Ofcom, Ofgem and the CMA, as part of a Regulator Council to develop a shared understanding of how regulators can support growth. The results of the 2024 survey of business perceptions of regulation have been published. Key findings are that almost half of businesses (47%) agree that regulation is an obstacle to success, 52% think the burden of regulation will increase in the next twelve months but just 7% of businesses cited compliance with regulation as their greatest business concern. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has highlighted the work of the Regulatory Innovation Office and projects funded and to be funded through the Regulators Pioneer fund. Evidence > Press release: regulators remit > Research and analysis > Press release: cutting red tape to revolutionise public services > Notice >

Advertising watchdog rulings on ‘Under 18’ appeal: The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld three complaints regarding the appeal of gambling adverts to under 18’s. Inclusion of references to Chelsea football club, Lewis Hamilton and Gary Neville were ruled in breach of the advertising codes due to their appeal to under 18.s. The Portman Group has ruled following an appeal by the manufacturer from a preliminary ruling that a beer named ‘House party’ is not of undue appeal to under 18’s.

Betway > Eaton Gate Gaming > Bonne Terre > Portman Group >

Government guidance issued on resilience against ransomware attacks on supply chains: The Home Office has published detailed guidance highlighting the actions businesses should take to reduce the risk of ransomware attacks disrupting their supply chains. The guidance suggests that by following four steps—understand, identify, develop, and review—organisations and their supply chains can build resilience, not just within their own operations, but across their broader ecosystem.

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EU updates

EU Commission publish report on plastic packaging waste: In 2023, 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated in the EU, (177.8 kg per inhabitant) 21.2 kg higher than in 2013. Out of all the packaging waste generated, 40.4% was paper and cardboard, 19.8% was plastic, 18.8% glass, 15.8% wood, 4.9% metal and 0.2% other packaging. An average of 35.3 kg of plastic packaging waste was generated in 2023 for each person living in the EU. Out of this, 14.8 kg was recycled. In 2023, the EU recycled 42.1% of all the generated plastic packaging waste, indicating an increase in the recycling rate compared with 2013 (38.2%).

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EU Regulations:

On biocides:

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

On feed additives:

Developments to watch

Scottish Government: Launch consultation on circular economy strategy. Responses required by 13^th January. View >

Ethical Trading Initiative: Publish statement following government response to parliamentary joint committee on human rights report on forced labour in UK supply chains. View > View >

Cabinet Office: Take over responsibility for policy and implementation on digital identity. View >

Competition and Markets Authority: Interim Chair, Doug Gurr, delivers speech on competition and growth. View >

International Panel on Climate change: To hold meeting Peru 27-30^th October. View >

For your information

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

CTSI: Highlight Ministerial support for Approved Codes Scheme. View >

Pubs Code Adjudicator: Comments on impact of the Arbitration Act 2025. View >

Gambling Commission: Chief Executive, Andrew Rhodes delivers speech at international gambling regulators conference. View >

HM Treasury: Announce appointment of Dr Anna Valero as adviser on industrial strategy. View>

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