Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 23 August 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.

Sign up now to receive the next edition direct to your inbox

Retail, Food & Hospitality important updates

Advertising Watchdog rules brand adverting exemption applied to Easter egg Instagram post: Following a complaint by ‘Bite Back’ The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that an Instagram post for chocolate easter eggs by Ferrero Roche for Thorntons did not breach the internet advertising ban for less healthy foods. The ASA reached its conclusion on the basis that the chocolate egg pictured was not identifiable as any of the seven chocolate eggs in the Thorntons range and therefore the advertisement fell withing the exemption for brand advertising. View >

Competition and Markets Authority targets large consumer service providers over pricing practices: The CMA has issued a press release setting out that it has launched investigations into alleged use of ‘drip pricing’ sales activity. If the ASA concludes that the full price has not been disclosed to customers upfront it may impose under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 financial penalties of up to 10% of global turnover. The three firms under investigation were sent ‘advisory letters’ as part of the CMA’s first consumer protection drive using its new enforcement powers. The CMA published a 3-step checklist to help businesses make sure their prices are clear and upfront earlier this year. View > View >

Government consult on tougher penalties to curtail fly tipping: In addition to increasing the penalty for fly tipping offences from £1000 to £5000 DEFRA has launched a consultation on the potential to issue ‘conditional cautions’ to fly tipping offenders requiring them to clear up their waste – responses are required by 16 October. Local authorities have also been given clear instructions on identifying and seizing vehicles involved in fly-tipping with new government guidance. The guidance includes advice on taking cases to court and securing convictions against vehicle owners. View > View > Guidance >

EU updates

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

On pesticide risk assessment: choline hydrogen phosphonate >
On maximum residue levels for plant protection product: clopyralid >

Developments to watch

DEFRA: Publish animal disease outbreak updates: Bluetongue > Avian influenza >

HOME OFFICE: Issue consultation on restricting use of two commonly used solvents gamma butyrolactone and 14-butanediol – Responses required by 11 November. View >

EXCHANGE for CHANGE: Appointment as Deposit Management Organisation for Wales welcomed by British Retail Consortium. View >

For your information

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

Ministry of Justice: Publish amendments to CriminaL Procedure rules in force from 5 October. View >

Office for Product Safety and Standards: Publish summary of the organisation’s responsibilities. View >

Unsubscribe

Only access by the addressee is authorised. Any liability (in negligence, contract or otherwise) arising from any third party taking any action, or refraining from taking any action on the basis of any of the information contained in this e-mail is hereby excluded. In the event that you are not the addressee, please notify the sender immediately. Do not discuss, disclose the contents to any person, or store or copy the information in any medium or use it for any purpose whatsoever. Copyright in this e-mail (and any attachments created by DWF Law LLP, belongs to DWF Law LLP which asserts the right to be identified as such and hereby objects to any misuse thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, DWF Law LLP does not accept service of documents by e-mail, and the use of e-mail does not imply that it is willing to do so, unless otherwise expressly agreed.

DWF Law LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (registered number OC423384) with its registered office at 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA. DWF Law LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an Alternative Business Structure. Our professional code of conduct can be accessed at https://www.sra.org.uk DWF Law LLP is listed on the Financial Services Register as an Exempt Professional Firm, able to carry out certain insurance mediation activities (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). The term 'Partner' is used to refer to a Member of DWF Law LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualification. A list of the Members of DWF Law LLP and of the Non-Members who are designated as Partners is open to inspection at our registered office, DWF Law LLP, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester,Greater Manchester,M3 3AA,England. The recipient of this e-mail will, at all times, be dealing with DWF Law LLP unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to another DWF group entity unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to DWF in Ireland.

Unsubscribe

Only access by the addressee is authorised. Any liability (in negligence, contract or otherwise) arising from any third party taking any action, or refraining from taking any action on the basis of any of the information contained in this e-mail is hereby excluded. In the event that you are not the addressee, please notify the sender immediately. Do not discuss, disclose the contents to any person, or store or copy the information in any medium or use it for any purpose whatsoever. Copyright in this e-mail (and any attachments created by DWF Law LLP, belongs to DWF Law LLP which asserts the right to be identified as such and hereby objects to any misuse thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, DWF Law LLP does not accept service of documents by e-mail, and the use of e-mail does not imply that it is willing to do so, unless otherwise expressly agreed.

DWF Law LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (registered number OC423384) with its registered office at 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA. DWF Law LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an Alternative Business Structure. Our professional code of conduct can be accessed at https://www.sra.org.uk DWF Law LLP is listed on the Financial Services Register as an Exempt Professional Firm, able to carry out certain insurance mediation activities (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). The term 'Partner' is used to refer to a Member of DWF Law LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualification. A list of the Members of DWF Law LLP and of the Non-Members who are designated as Partners is open to inspection at our registered office, DWF Law LLP, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester,Greater Manchester,M3 3AA,England. The recipient of this e-mail will, at all times, be dealing with DWF Law LLP unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to another DWF group entity unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to DWF in Ireland.