Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 18 January 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

Consultation launched on farm animal welfare proposals: DEFRA has launched consultations on proposals to end the use of caged hens for laying hens and to improve the welfare of lambs in respect of tail docking and castration. Under the proposals all colony cage systems across the laying hen sector would be phased out by 2032 including for smaller producers. To improve welfare for lambs, farmers will be expected to take steps to minimise pain when castration and tail docking must be carried out. Responses are required by 9 March. Press release > Open consultation: cage reform > Open consultation: lamb welfare >

Adjudicators seek feedback on supply chain issues: The Grocery Code and Pubs Code Adjudicators have both issued their annual surveys to gather evidence of supply chain fair trading concerns in their sectors. Responses from suppliers to supermarkets are required by 22 February and responses from tied tenants to the pubs code adjudicator are required by mid-March. News > Pubs code adjudicator >

Portman Group issue ‘Retailer alert bulletin’: Following marketplace monitoring commissioned by the industry regulatory body the groups adjudication panel ruled that a product ‘Sip N Drip Bubble yum’ had ‘under 18 appeal’ contrary to its code. Following apparently unsuccessful dialogue with the producer the Portman group has issued a retailer alert bulleting instructing retailers not to stock the product from 14 April. View >

Salmon misrepresentation case to go for crown court trial: The Food Standards Agency has highlighted that a case of alleged misrepresentation of Norwegian Salmon as Scottish investigated by its National Food Crime Unit and prosecuted by the crown prosecution service has been referred to the Crown Court for trial. View >

EU updates

EU DG Environment highlight new drinking water limits for PFAS chemicals and monitoring requirement: Under new rules in force Jan 12, Member States must monitor, in a harmonised way, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in drinking water to ensure compliance with the new EU limit values. If the limit values are exceeded, Member States must take action to reduce the level of PFAS and protect public health, while also informing the public. View >

European court of justice introduces updated case law search tool: View >

EU Regulations:

Use of carcinogenic / mutagenic chemicals in cosmetics: View >
Authorising feed additives: Bacillus velezensis > celery and caraway seed essential oils > Enterococcus lactis DSM 7134 > L-arginine > L-lysine sulphate > 6-phytase >
Delisting feed additives: for cats and dogs >
Amending authorisation for biocidal products: Airedale PAA >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

Upper intake limit for food supplement: docosahexaenoic acid >
Peer review of pesticide risk assessment: pydiflumetofen >
maximum residue levels: deltamethrin > tebufenozide >
food enzymes: papain >

Developments to watch

Food Standards Scotland: Consult on the provisional authorisation of Cobalt II products as feed additives – Responses required by 9 February, View >

FSA Northern Ireland: Publish paper on impact of new advertising restrictions for high fat, salt and sugar foods. View >

Regulatory Innovation Office: Launch pilot ‘front door’ initiative for defence and robotics firms to raise issues over burden of regulation. View >

Health and Safety Executive: Publish details of prosecution of Director for failure to comply with enforcement notices. View >

For your information

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

Department for Business and Trade: Publish an updated dashboard on retained and assimilated EU law. View >

CIEH: Respond to criticism of Food Hygiene rating scheme on BBC World at one: View >

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