Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 10 August 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. 

Retail, Food & Hospitality Important updates

Welsh Government consult on increase to minimum unit price for alcohol: The Welsh Government is consulting on continuation of a minimum wage per unit of alcohol and increasing the rate per unit from 50p to 65p. the new minimum price would apply from 1 March 2026. Responses are required by 29^th September. View >

New remit set for Low Pay Commission: The Department for Business and Trade has written to the Low Pay Commission setting out its remit for reporting with recommendations on future living and minimum wage rates by end of October 2025. The remit focuses on removing discriminatory age-related rates for 18-20 year olds, under 18’s and apprentices. Publication > News > UK Hospitality >

Regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures to be tightened: The Department for Health and Social Care has decided to place high risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures under the supervision of the Care Quality Commission and to introduce local authority licensing for lower risk procedures including Botox, lip fillers and facial dermal fillers. Proposals include to introduce a lower age limit of 18 for those receiving such treatments. Consultation > News > Chartered Trading Stndards Institute > Chartered Institute of Environmental Health >

Watchdog upholds complaint re Brewdog ‘Wingman’ advertising: The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint about Brewdog Wingman IPA ‘Always got your back’ advertising. The ASA ruled that scenarios presented in the ad - WiFi outages, unexpected bad weather and a friend running late would likely result in a person having to wait for an outcome outside of their control and having their day interrupted in a negative way were likely to result in people feeling frustrated, bored and potentially lonely and would be likely to be viewed as problematic. The advertising breached the code because it implied that drinking alcohol could overcome boredom, loneliness or other problems. View >

Enforcement bodies highlight successes in countering food fraud activities:

• The Food Standards Agency has highlighted a number of arrests and seizure of a large quantity of 20kg and 10kg packages of adulterated Basmati rice and the arrest of four individuals following an investigation by its national food crime unit. View >
• National Trading Standards have highlighted convictions in a substantial wine investment fraud where consumers paid money to invest in what they believed to be high quality Bordeaux wines. It is estimated that over ten years consumer losses may have run to £37 million. Sentencing of three people convicted of fraud is due to take place on 24^th View >

EU updates

EU Commission seek ambitious global agreement to tackle plastics pollution: the EU is actively involved in a High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution > which includes 70 countries committed to aiming high in negotiations to end plastic pollution by 2040. The EU is advocating for a global treaty that addresses the entire life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal, and includes measures to phase out certain plastic products that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment. The EU is also committed to continue advocating for effective provisions on the environmentally sound management of plastic waste. The negotiations, which run until August 14, follow a previous session in December 2024 that made significant progress towards a deal but ultimately failed to reach an agreement. View >  

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

• On feed additives: 6-phytase > L-arginine >
• On food additives: oxygen (E948) and hydrogen (E949) >
• Maximum residues for plant protection product: cyflufenamid >
• Pesticide risk assessment: fosetyl > 

Developments to watch

Food Standards Scotland: Issue consultation on its strategy for 2026-2031. Responses required by 14^th September. View >

Grocery Code Adjudicator: Publish response to review questions asked by the Department for Business and Trade. View > View >

Department for Business and Trade: Issue consultation on application by ‘Consumer Scotland’ for super complainant status under the Enterprise Act 2002. Responses required by 30^th October. View >

Financial Conduct Authority: Announce intention to consult on compensation scheme following supreme court motor finance ruling. View >

DEFRA: Name further signatories to business statement of ambition re plastics reductions treaty negotiations. View >

For your information

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

Government Chemist: Publish ‘e’ seminar on testing methods for presence of allergens. View >

Appointments:

• DHSC – Professor Susan Hopkins CBE. Chief Executive, UK Health Security Agency. View >
• Food Standards Agency: Board members: Clare Evans, Dr Susan Paterson, Steve Ruddy, Professor Sir Frank Atherton, Alison Austin and Louise Hoste View >

DEFRA: Publish update on ongoing avian flu epidemic. View >

Animal and Plant Health Agency: Publish update on ongoing Blue tongue epidemic. View >