Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 22 February 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

Hospitality sector launches initiative to improve welfare of chickens and sustainability: Trade Association UK Hospitality has announced that eight businesses owning or franchising 18 leading hospitality brands have formed a ‘Sustainable Chicken Forum (SCF). The new forum has committed to focus on:

Advancing chicken welfare across each business’s supply chain, led by science-based welfare outcomes.
Using reporting mechanisms to demonstrate progress across the hospitality sector.
Championing continuous improvements in chicken welfare.
Exploring opportunities for further research into the challenges facing the poultry sector in balancing welfare improvements with environmental impact and consistent supply.
Engaging in policy development that supports the British supply to grow as part of the European and global poultry supply chain. In the UK, advocating for a joined-up approach to poultry policy that overcomes restrictive planning rules and aligns animal welfare and farming priorities.

The move apparently follows withdrawal from another initiative because of its focus on use of slower growing poultry varieties

View >

Tribunal supports DEFRA decision to reject Traditional Speciality guaranteed application for Wiltshire Cured Ham: Following a long running application process the British meat Processors Association appealed to the First-Tier tribunal over rejection of its application for Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status for ‘Wiltshire Cured Ham’. The tribunal decided that as there was another manufacturer of Wiltshire Cured Ham which used different traditional methods for a substantially similar product that DEFRA had been correct to reject the application. View >

Home Office confirm potential licensing hours relaxation around home nation World cup final matches: Following its recent consultation the Home Office has announced its intention to extend licensing hours in England and Wales in the event that any of the home nations reach the semi-finals or finals of the Men’s Football World Cup 2026 - 14 and/or 15 July 2026 for the semi-finals and 19 July 2026 for the finals - until 1am the following morning, providing the match kicks off at 9pm or earlier, and that the contingent order should only apply to the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises (i.e. it should not apply to the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises). View >

EU updates

UK Food and Drink Federation set out priorities for new SPS agreement with EU: The FDF are urging Government to pursue the following ten principles in its negotiations of a new trade deal with the EU:

Early and transparent communication with business
Communicate changes with global suppliers
If we can change the rules to make things easier for business now we should
Ensure UK has a voice in EU decision making
Allow sufficient lead in periods for business to adapt
Retain control over national legislation in specific areas
Prepare for future supply chain disruption
Plan for the removal of ‘not for EU’ labelling
Monitor future EU policy development
Provide support for businesses to make the most of the new agreement

View >

EU DG Energy call for evidence on simplification of energy efficiency labelling: View >

UK Department for Business and Trade: Publish explanatory memorandum to parliament on UK approach to EU Cosmetic regulation changes. View >

EU Regulations:

Amending poultry meat marketing standards: View > View >
Postponing expiry dates for biocides: permethrin > alpha-cypermethrin >
Renewing approval of plant protection products: pyrimethanil > spinosad >
Authorising feed additives: endo-1,4-beta-xylanase > L-arginine > L-histidine and L-histidine monohydrochloride monohydrate >
Authorising traditional herbal medicine: bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) >
Amending authorisation of biocide: HCl Disinfecting Toilet Bowl Cleaner >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

Antimicrobial resistance of zoonotic bacteria in 2023-4. View > View >
Feed additives. molybdenum chelate > tocopherol extracts >
Health claim: Consumption of beta-glucans from oats contributes to reduction of the glucose peak after a meal >
Food additive: sucralase >

Developments to watch

US Supreme Court: Rule on Presidential use of international Emergency Powers Act to impose tariffs. View >

DEFRA Issue updates on animal disease outbreaks: Bird flu > Blue tongue > View >

Office for Product Safety and Standards: Publish report on feasibility of obtaining accident data from the NHS. View >

Department for Business and Trade: Publish quarterly performance dashboard of 15 national regulators against KPI’s. View >

Environment Agency: Publish report on radioactivity in the environment and food for 2024. View >

For your information

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

High Court: Reject appeals by abattoir re FSA issued improvement notices. View >

Office for Product Safety and Standards: Publish additional resources in public campaign on online safety. View >

Cabinet Office: Announce the appointment of Antonio Romeo as Cabinet Secretary. View >

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Publish letter to Local Authorities following decision that May 2026 local council elections must proceed as scheduled. View >

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