Consultation launched on use of revised nutrient profiling model to tighten food advertising and marketing controls: The Department of Health and Social Care is consulting on the new model, which is based on the latest dietary recommendations. It looks at the healthiness of food and drinks based on their balance of nutrients - calories, salt, saturated fat, protein and fibre - and also free sugars, which are added to products or released during food processing. The new model will mean some products often marketed as healthier but which contain hidden sugars or are high calorie could be in scope of the restrictions. The consultation seeks views on how and when the new NPM should be used, the guidance businesses will need and the timeline for implementation. Responses are required by 17 June. The British Retail Consortium has described the new model as ‘not workable or enforceable’. Press release >Open consultation >British Retail Consortium >
Competition and Markets Authority launch crackdown on fake reviews: The CMA has launched investigations under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 into use of online reviews by Autotrader, Feefo, Just Eat, Pasta Evangelists and Dignity. The CMA are suggesting that the reviews are misleading for a variety of reasons including there being completed by staff, results being incentivised by discounts, star ratings enhanced, negative reviews suppressed. The investigations bring the total number of businesses under review using the CMA’s new consumer powers to 14. These powers enable the CMA to decide whether consumer laws have been broken, without having to go through the courts. Online consumer reviews >Press release >
Government issues guidance on screen time for under 5’s: The Department for education has published the findings and recommendations of the Early Years Screen Time Advisory Group on the effects of all types of screen use in the early years of childhood. The new guidance is available for free on the Best Start in Life website > with key tips including:
Under 2s: Avoiding screen time other than for shared activities that encourage bonding, interaction and conversation.
2 to 5-year-olds: Trying to keep it to no more than one hour a day. Avoid at mealtimes and in the hour before bed.
Content: Choosing slow-paced, age-appropriate content. Fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools should be avoided for young children.
Co-viewing: Watching or using screens together - talking, asking questions and engaging with the content - is better for children’s development than solo screen use.
Food Standards Agency outlines plans to modernise food regulatory system: At its Board Meeting on 25 March the FSA Board received an update and approved plans towards modernisation of the UK Food Regulatory system including for the national regulation of some major food businessesmaking better use of existing data and assurance systems, alongside in-person inspections. Enhanced food registration and mandatory display of food hygiene ratings also appear in the plan. View >
EU updates
European Council confirms Lille as home of new EU Customs Authority: View >BEUC >
EU Commission investigate Snapchat over child protection safeguards: The European Commission has opened formal proceedings to investigate if Snapchat is ensuring a high level of safety, privacy and security for children online, in compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission believes Snapchat may have breached the DSA by exposing minors to grooming attempts and recruitment for criminal purposes, as well as to information about the sale of illegal goods, like drugs, or age-restricted products, such as vapes and alcohol.View >
EU enforcement sweep finds misleading online sales practices: The European Commission and member state consumer protection authorities have discovered that some online discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales were misleading. Main findings include:
Out of 314 online traders checked, 30% referenced discounts incorrectly. Discounts must be based on the lowest price applied in the past 30 days.
36% of traders attempted to add optional items to consumers' baskets. Of those, 40% did so without clearly requesting consent.
34% of traders displayed price comparisons, but 60% of them did not clearly explain where the reference prices came from.
18% used pressure-selling techniques, such as claiming a product is running out or using countdown timers. More than half of these cases were misleading, for example, when the claim of scarcity was fake.
10% used ‘drip pricing’, where extra fees are added late in the purchasing process, such as shipping or service fees.
Department for Business and Trade: Set out plans to tackle poor payment practices.View >
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Consult on setting up and regulation of fire assessor profession. Responses required by 18 June. View >View >
Scottish Government: Issue press release on passing on visitor levy amendment Bill.View >
Welsh Government: Pass Regulations on deposit return scheme for single trip drinks packaging. View >
Government Chemist: Publish EU food and feed law update to December 2025. View >
Office for UK Internal Market: Publish dashboard on regulatory alignment. View >
Food and Drink Federation: Issue press release on appointment of packaging PRO to manage packaging deposit return scheme development. View >
Government Chemist: Publish press release on honey fraud and authenticity testing. View >
UK Hospitality: Claim visitor levies will cost consumers £1.6 Bn in additional taxes. View >
Scottish Government: Set out how £7.9m gambling levy funding is to be spent on projects to reduce harm from gambling. View >
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