Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 15 March 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.

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Retail, Food & Hospitality Important updates

UK Sets course for alignment of sanitary and phytosanitary controls with EU: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published its intention to align with UK Food law with EU rules as part of a new SPS agreement proposed from mid 2027. All the following are stated as being in scope of a new agreement: food and feed safety; and broader nutrition-related areas such as food supplements, fortified foods, food for specific groups, nutrition and health claims, and nutrition labelling; wider agrifood rules related to food labelling, organics, key agri-food marketing standards and compositional standards; as well as regulation of pesticides and biocides. DEFRA has issued a call for information on the support and guidance business may require for such a change and whether transitional periods may be required. Responses are required by 23 April 2026. View > View > View >

OFCOM demands responses from six streaming services on child protection: OFCOM has written to six major providers of streaming services to require responses from them on the child safety measures they have in place on effective age restrictions, failsafe anti grooming safeguards, safer feeds for children and an end to product testing on children. OFCOM has announced its intention to publish the responses which it has required by 30 April before deciding if further action is required. View >

Food Standards Agency Board to consider national level regulation of supermarkets: At its next meeting on 26 March the FSA Board is being asked to note progress and confirm direction of the executive team towards implementation of national level regulation for the major supermarket businesses following announcement in the November 2025 budget. The programme’s early priorities will be a high-level analysis to assess the ‘as is’ state and determine next steps for design and development including data and digital requirements and complete a legislative mapping exercise to identify which proposals may need primary legislation, which can be achieved through secondary legislation, and which can be achieved through non-legislative means. View >

EU updates

European Commission publish consumer product safety report for 2025: In its annual report on the Safety Gate portal for member state reporting of unsafe consumer products the EU Commission has highlighted that of 4671 reports. 36% related to Cosmetics, 16% toys and 11% electrical products. View > View >

EU Regulations:

Authorising feed additives: Acacia gum > Monensin sodium (Coxidin) > Patchouli essential oil > Xanthan gum >

European Food Safety Authority: Sign cooperation agreement with the UN Food and Agriculuture Organisation: View >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

Pesticide risk assessment: Clodinafop >

Food contact chemical: Poly 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline >

EU DG Energy report on monitoring of display of appliance energy ratings at retail level: View >

EU Decisions:

Authorising genetically modified food ingredients: Maize > Sugar beet >

Developments to watch

DEFRA: Announce steps to speed up infrastructure planning decisions. View >

DEFRA: Publish update on Blue-tongue outbreak. View >

Food Standards Agency: National crime Unit highlight seizure of £0.5 million counterfeit wine and prosecco. View >

For your information

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

Office for Product Safety and Standards: Publish information on the cost benefit of its activities.

View >

High Court: Reject challenge to Tango Gold mandarin variety sold by ASDA. View >

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