Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up.

Week ending 13 September 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.

Sign up now to receive the next edition direct to your inbox

Retail, Food & Hospitality important updates

Advertising watchdog rules against use of the term ‘ECO’ to advertise hotels and resorts, even when it features in the hotel’s name’ : The ASA ruled against two holiday companies who were advertising hotels that included the word 'eco' in their name in paid for google ads, despite the holiday companies not choosing to use the term as a claim and merely using the name the hotel or resort actually trades by. The two hotels both had environmental initiatives but because the term 'eco' can have a wide range of meanings and there was no explanatory text or a link to it, it was considered misleading. View > View >

Government announces intention to axe thicket of consultation, litigation and administration to promote growth: The Chancellor has delivered a speech on ‘growth’ in which plans have been outlined to reduce the time spent on consultations, to set tighter time limits around bringing of judicial reviews of administrative decisions and to put a regulatory framework around ‘regulatory sandboxing’ to allow the testing of new approaches and innovative ideas. A letter has been sent from the First Secretary of State, Chancellor and Attorney General to all Ministers setting out that formal consultation should only take place where there is a statutory requirement to consult, where it would be conspicuously unfair not to consult, or where ministers believe there is a good case for seeking external input and that the right vehicle for doing so is a formal consultation. The Government has also launched a consultation on reducing corporate reporting requirements claiming that this will save businesses £450 million per year to which responses are required by 30 November. View > View > View > View > View > Open consultation > British Chambers of Commerce

Livestock vaccination urged in fast spreading Blue tongue epidemic: DEFRA and the Scottish and Welsh Governments have published information on the extent of new cases and actions to combat the rapidly spreading epidemic. There are bluetongue restricted zones across the whole of England and Wales and in an area of South West Scotland around Dumfries and Galloway. Under new measures, where the signs of bluetongue are clear, private vets will be able to diagnose bluetongue after examining affected animals, with cases formally confirmed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). DEFRA have advised farmers that vaccination is the best tool available to help protect susceptible livestock and urged them to speak to their vet about vaccinating their herd or flock as a matter of urgency as it takes time for immunity in vaccinated animals to build. Gov.UK guidance > Gov.UK press release > Gov.Scot news > Gov.Scot press release >

EU updates

EU DG Communication issue press release on Cyber Resilience Act: As of 11 September 2026, the Cyber Resilience Act requires manufacturers to report any actively exploited vulnerabilities and severe incidents that have an impact on the security of their products. They must submit an early warning within 24 hours, followed by a full notification within 72 hours. A final report must then be submitted no later than 14 days after a corrective or mitigating measure is available for an actively exploited vulnerability, and within 1 month for a severe incident. The reporting obligations apply to all products with digital elements made available in the EU, including those already on the market. View >

Call for evidence issued on new genomic techniques regulation: The Commission has published a call for evidence in preparation for a delegated act and implementing act supporting the application of Regulation (EU) 2026/1388 on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques (NGT) and their products. The acts are designed to set procedural and information requirements for the verification, notification for deliberate release and application for placing on the market of NGT plants and of food and feed containing, consisting of or produced from NGT plants. Responses are required by 28 September. View >

EU Regulations:

Authorising biocides: ELOCLEAR > ERO MN > Sodium Hypochlorite Liquid Disinfectant >
Authorising feed additive: molybdenum chelate of EDTA >
Setting import tolerance for plant protection product: fenazaquin >
Authorising plant protection products: mecoprop-P > pyraclostrobin >

European Food Safety Authority:

Reach conclusion that aspartame-acesulfame (E962) is safe given current consumption levels. View >

Developments to watch

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Publish outcome of consultation on visitor levies in England. View > UK Hospitality > View >

Scottish Government First Minister, John Swinney writes to PM requesting a meeting to discuss a Scottish independence referendum. View >

For your information

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

Appointments:

Cat Little CB: Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation, Skills and Technology. View >

Ruth Evans: Chair, Gambling Commission. View >

Competition and Markets Authority: Publish updated structure chart. View >

Unsubscribe

Only access by the addressee is authorised. Any liability (in negligence, contract or otherwise) arising from any third party taking any action, or refraining from taking any action on the basis of any of the information contained in this e-mail is hereby excluded. In the event that you are not the addressee, please notify the sender immediately. Do not discuss, disclose the contents to any person, or store or copy the information in any medium or use it for any purpose whatsoever. Copyright in this e-mail (and any attachments created by DWF Law LLP, belongs to DWF Law LLP which asserts the right to be identified as such and hereby objects to any misuse thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, DWF Law LLP does not accept service of documents by e-mail, and the use of e-mail does not imply that it is willing to do so, unless otherwise expressly agreed.

DWF Law LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (registered number OC423384) with its registered office at 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA. DWF Law LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an Alternative Business Structure. Our professional code of conduct can be accessed at https://www.sra.org.uk DWF Law LLP is listed on the Financial Services Register as an Exempt Professional Firm, able to carry out certain insurance mediation activities (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). The term 'Partner' is used to refer to a Member of DWF Law LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualification. A list of the Members of DWF Law LLP and of the Non-Members who are designated as Partners is open to inspection at our registered office, DWF Law LLP, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester,Greater Manchester,M3 3AA,England. The recipient of this e-mail will, at all times, be dealing with DWF Law LLP unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to another DWF group entity unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to DWF in Ireland.

Unsubscribe

Only access by the addressee is authorised. Any liability (in negligence, contract or otherwise) arising from any third party taking any action, or refraining from taking any action on the basis of any of the information contained in this e-mail is hereby excluded. In the event that you are not the addressee, please notify the sender immediately. Do not discuss, disclose the contents to any person, or store or copy the information in any medium or use it for any purpose whatsoever. Copyright in this e-mail (and any attachments created by DWF Law LLP, belongs to DWF Law LLP which asserts the right to be identified as such and hereby objects to any misuse thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, DWF Law LLP does not accept service of documents by e-mail, and the use of e-mail does not imply that it is willing to do so, unless otherwise expressly agreed.

DWF Law LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (registered number OC423384) with its registered office at 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA. DWF Law LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an Alternative Business Structure. Our professional code of conduct can be accessed at https://www.sra.org.uk DWF Law LLP is listed on the Financial Services Register as an Exempt Professional Firm, able to carry out certain insurance mediation activities (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). The term 'Partner' is used to refer to a Member of DWF Law LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualification. A list of the Members of DWF Law LLP and of the Non-Members who are designated as Partners is open to inspection at our registered office, DWF Law LLP, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester,Greater Manchester,M3 3AA,England. The recipient of this e-mail will, at all times, be dealing with DWF Law LLP unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to another DWF group entity unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to DWF in Ireland.