Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 20 July 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 updates

Government launches ‘Good Food Cycle’ food strategy: The UK government food strategy for England sets out how the Government intends to create a healthier, more affordable, sustainable, resilient food system. The food strategy sets out ten priority outcomes. With two-thirds of adults in England currently overweight or living with obesity and costing the NHS over £11.4 billion annually, the Government claims its new approach will ‘help make sure healthier choices don’t get squeezed off supermarket shelves by less nutritious options’. At a launch event in Bradford, Food Minister Daniel Zeichner said ‘We are determined to make this happen. There’s much we can do in the meantime, but if it needs legislation, so be it, there will be. Publication > News > Speech > Sustain > Food and Drink Federation >

Consultation on framing of ‘Brand advertising’ exemption to advertising ban on less healthy foods: The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on draft regulations to implement an exemption for the advertisement of brands as opposed to less healthy products. The draft regulation seeks to pin down the scope of the exemption for brand advertising. Responses are required by 6 August. View >

Consultation on draft regulations to ban wet wipes containing plastics: The Regulations seek to implement a ban on wet wipes containing plastic in England only, providing civil penalties for non-compliance. The regulations are due to come into force eighteen months after they are made. Responses are required by 31 July. View >

Food Standards Agency launch public awareness campaign re slushy drinks containing glycerol: Following issue of revised guidance for businesses on sale of ice drinks containing glycerol the FSA has now launched a campaign to raise awareness amongst consumers. The FSA advises that under 7’s are not given slushies and that 7-10 year olds only have a maximum of one 350ml serving per day. View >

EU updates

EU Council announce postponement of due diligence rules under Batteries Directive by two years: The Regulation under the Omnibus 4 simplification programme provides until 18 August 2017 for battery makers and exporters to comply with new environmental due diligence rules set by the Batteries Regulation 2023. The postponement will also allow more time for the setting up of third-party verification bodies required by the Regulation. View >

Client Earth lead interested parties in letter calling on EU member states not to abandon EU Green claims Directive: In a letter sent to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke, over 30 signatories have asked the Danish Presidency of the EU Council to unite Member States to secure the Directive’s future and deliver clear, enforceable rules that businesses need to make credible environmental claims.  View >    

EU Regulations:

• On persistent organic pollutant: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) >
• On feed additives: 3-phytase > biotin > endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucan’s and endo-1,4-beta-xylanase >
• canthaxanthin > L-lysine base liquid > origanum essential oil > peppermint, clary sage and sage essential oils >
• Spanish sage and gams and lavender essential oils > Saccharomyces cerevisiae > tea tree essential oil >
• On methyleugenyl content of cinnamon bark oil: View >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

• On feed additives: 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3(2H)-one > Acacia gum (gum arabic) > folic acid >
• On pesticide risk assessment: maleic hydrazide >
• EFSA Consult on draft opinion on presence of estragole in Fennel seeds – Responses required by 17 September. View >

Developments to watch

Payment Systems Regulator: Publish detailed update on work to develop a new payments system: View >

Department for Business and Trade: Launch call for evidence on unpaid internships – Responses required by 9 October. View >

HM Treasury: Publish response to consultation on improving anti money laundering regulation. View >

HM Treasury: Chancellor announces financial services reform package ‘the Leeds reforms’. View > View >

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health: Welcome removal of pre-notification requirement of inspection visits from the Renters Rights Bill. View >

Welsh Government: Publish statement on how gambling levy funds are to be deployed. View > 

For your information

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

OFCOM Chair: Delivers speech on new vision for regulation – enable, engage, evolve. View >

Friends of the Earth: Start legal challenge to adequacy of UK Government climate adaptation plans in the European Court of Human Rights. View >

Federation of Small Businesses: Announce appointment of Joshua Miles as ‘Head of FSB Wales’. View >