Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 25 October 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

DMCCA subscription contracts regime: Preparing for the new restrictions: The DMCCA subscription contracts regime in-force date is expected to be formally brought forward to January 2027. View >

National priorities set for feed and primary food production: The Food Standards Agency has published updated national enforcement priorities for 2006/2007 for feed and food hygiene. The priorities apply to feed (at all stages of production, processing, storage, transportation and distribution including import and the primary production of feed) and food hygiene at primary production. The FSA has set out detailed guidance in respect of its seven national priorities. View >

Government respond to Small Business Regulatory task force report: The Small Business and Enterprise Minister has responded to the fifteen recommendations in a report by the independent Small Business regulatory task force. The Government accepted fourteen of the fifteen recommendations which focus on businesses only needing to provide information to regulators once, better guidance, passporting and standardisation of tender requirements, transparency around progress towards meeting a 25% burdens reduction target. View > Federation of Small Businesses > Association of Convenience Stores > British Chambers of Commerce >

Business, Trade Unions and civil society groups call for a mandatory act on human rights and environmental due diligence: A total of 35 organisations including national retailers, the British Retail Consortium, Unison, the ethical Trading initiative have written to the Prime Minister calling for mandatory legislation to set standards for human rights and environmental due diligence. The letter calls for legislation which holds all UK businesses legally accountable for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent harm across their operations and value chains, covers all human rights, labour rights and environmental harms, applies to public and private sector organisations alike, in proportion to their size, influence and leverage, provides access to justice and remedy for people who are harmed and keeps pace with due diligence laws internationally. View >

Greater safeguards introduced for motorists in new private parking code: A new private parking code has been laid before parliament. New safeguards for motorists include a guaranteed 5 minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave once their session ends, and the right to have charges cancelled on appeal for issues they can’t control such as like stopping briefly to check directions, medical emergency, breakdown or broken ticket machine. A new Certification Scheme will be used by new conformity assessment bodies to oversee parking operator compliance with the Private Parking Code of Practice. The Code brings in an independent scrutiny and oversight board and requires operators to share more information with government. View > View > View >

EU updates

EU Commission consult on use of bio-based feedstock in packaging plastics: The consultation aims to help assess possible market demand measures and targets to increase the use of bio-based feedstock in plastic packaging, which could be linked with possible sustainability requirements for bio-based feedstock. Responses required by 13^th January. View >

EU Commission welcome agreement by Council and Parliament on proposed new rulebook for organic production: The revised EU framework for organic production and labelling agreed upon by the co-legislators will allow imported organic products coming from non-EU countries with equivalent systems to use the EU organic logo, provided they meet additional EU production and control requirements, extend the current recognition of 11 non-EU countries under the equivalence regime until 31 December 2036, avoiding disruptions in organic imports and exports while trade agreements are negotiated, adapt and streamline eligibility conditions on certification for small retailers and for groups of operators and their members, adapt certain livestock and crop production rules, such as on poultry, feed, conversion period and veterinary treatments, as well as on the management of soil fertility in greenhouses. View >

EU Regulations:

Specifications for food additives: steviol glycosides >
Rejecting extensions of use of plant protection product: Urtica spp >

European Food Safety Authority:

Publish opinions on feed additives: glycolipids (E246) > L-threonine >
On health claim for weight loss product Appethyl ®: View >

EU Monitoring recommendations to member states:

Developments to watch

DEFRA: Publish updates on disease outbreaks: Blue Tongue > Avian flu >

Competition and Markets Authority: Designate Aldi and Lidl as large grocery retailers in respect of property transactions. View >

DEFRA: Published detailed report by the Animal Welfare Committee on the welfare of hens in non – cage production systems. View >

For your information

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

Office for Product Safety and Standards: Withdraw statutory guidance prohibiting the use of disposable BBQ’s. View >

Gambling Commission: Acting Chief Executive delivers keynote speech at international conference of gambling regulators. View >

Association of Convenience Stores: Appoint four senior retailers to Board of Directors: Victoria Lockie, Morrisons. Kate McCrae, COOP. Jerome Saint-Marc SPAR UK, Dan Dixon Willam Reed. View >

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