Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 19 April 2026.

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. 

🗓️Events

Wednesday 13 May | 10:00 - 11:00 | Microsoft Teams

Join us for our monthly webinar series where we explore the month's regulatory headlines as well as a deeper dive into:

• A deep dive into the 2 key product safety consultations running at present and why you should pay attention: We will be exploring the consultations into the UK’s new product safety framework and the Enforcement and Market Surveillance Reform. These consultations set the tone for the future of product safety in the UK at a time when closer EU alignment seemed inevitable. We will look at the key takeouts from the consultations and areas for you to consider including the proposals to ensure that "products sold online to ensure online marketplaces are held to the same high standards for product safety as bricks and mortar store".
• Extended Producer Responsibility: an update of the current position in the UK and EU.

Retail, Food & Hospitality Important updates

£4.2 Million penalty imposed on the AA over drip pricing: The Competition and Markets Authority has imposed its first financial penalty using its new consumer law powers on the AA requiring it to pay £4.2 million and to refund £760k to customers following its use of ‘drip pricing’ in the form of a £3 online booking fee for driving lessons that was not visible upfront when commencing booking. View >

ASA Publish first rulings on ban of promotion of less healthy foods online: The Advertising Standards Authority has published four ruling under a new rule in force from 5^th January banning the promotion of less healthy foods online (foods high in fat, sugar, salt). The ASA upheld complaints regarding Iceland and Lidl NI price promotions. It rejected complaints in regard to a TV advert and the promotion of opening of a Kebab shop where it considered depictions of the less healthy food not the purpose of the advertisements. Lidl NI > Iceland > German Doner Kebab > On the Beach >

Groceries Code Adjudicator publish results of 2026 supplier survey: The results claim that 32% of suppliers have experienced a code breach within the last twelve months with Issues with retailer processes for promptly resolving invoice discrepancies (20%), suppliers incurring significant costs because of inaccurate forecasting (18%), de-listing without reasonable notice (15%) and delays in payment (14%) being most frequently cited. The department for Business and Trade has also published the results of its review of the GCA between 2022-2025 ahead of its move to sponsorship by DEFRA from 1^st July.

GCA 2026 - news story > GCA statutory review > 

EU updates

EU Commission launch free source age verification APP: Dg Communication has announced that the EU has developed an Age verification APP that will be open source and free to use. The EU claims that the new age verification app is user-friendly and can be set up using a passport or ID card, enabling users to prove their age when accessing online services. The app is completely anonymous, works on any device, and is fully open source, meaning partner countries around the world can also adopt it.  View >

EU Dg Environment claim success in uptake of Eco–label: As of March 2026, 116,692 products, spanning goods and services, have been awarded the EU Ecolabel, backed by 3,541 licences. Tourist accommodation accounts for 27% of all licences, followed by hard surface cleaning products(13%), tissue paper/tissue products (8%) and indoor cleaning services (8%). Paints and varnishes account for 33% of all products, followed by tissue paper/tissue products (18%), textiles (10%), and furniture (9%). View >

Cyprus EU Presidency presents mid-term update: View >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

• Peer review of pesticide: metyltetraprole >

• Feed additive: Common ivy extract and thymol >

EU Regulations:

• On biocides: bioxal-Soproper > family Divosan PAA > SICO biocidal product family >

• Maximum residue limits for plant protection product: copper compounds >

• Approval of plant protection product: spinosad >

Developments to watch

Home Office: Publish details of licencing extensions for home matches in the World cup. View >

DEFRA: Publish disease outbreak updates for Avian Flu and Blue tongue: Bird flu > Blue tongue >

Ethical Trading Initiative: Publish guidance on business supply chain actions during the middle east conflict. View >

Financial Conduct Authority: Consult on guidance for new crypto asset regulatory regime from 2007. Responses required by 3 June. View >

For your information

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

Food and Drink Federation: Publish manifestos for Scottish and Welsh Government elections: View > View >

Advertising Standards Authority: Uphold complaint re comparative claims made by ‘Untamed cat food’. View >

High Court: Reject claims by national lottery bidder

re Gambling Commission. View > View >

Sustain and Compassion in World farming: Publish map of ammonia pollution in UK from intensive livestock farming. View >

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