Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 30 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.

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Retail, Food & Hospitality important updates

Advertising watchdog publishes guidance on its approach to adverts for less healthy foods: The Advertising Standards Authority has published guidance on the code provisions relating to less healthy foods that came into force in January following recent rulings. The guidance relates to adverts for identifiable LHF food and drink products which appear in Ofcom regulated TV & ODPS ads shown between 5:30am and 9pm, and in paid-for internet adverts. In the words of the ASA ‘The rules are likely to effectively prohibit many ads which ‘depict’ specific products which are classed as LHF.' The ASA is also promoting a training session due to take place on 10 September. View >

Prime Minister pledges to crackdown on ‘cowboy builders’: The Department for Business, Science, Innovation and Technology has issued a press release including a commitment by the Prime Minister to ‘Put cowboy builders out of business’. Looking at the detail, the claim is based on an approved code of practice which traders can sign up to being developed by the by the Furniture and Home Improvement ombudsman in partnership with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute to be launched in the autumn. The announcement also included the statement ‘Ministers are also today confirming longer term plans to overhaul the wider consumer protection landscape. This will examine how organisations like Citizens Advice and Trading Standards work with regulators, enforcement bodies and redress schemes to make the system faster, easier to access, and better at spotting and tackling harm early’. Press release > CTSI >

Scottish Government publish draft independence referendum bill: Scottish First Minister John Swinney has issued a press release on the publication of a new draft Scottish Independence referendum bill with a commitment to introduce the bill to the Scottish parliament ‘once the necessary powers are secured’. View >

EU updates

EU Dg Transport Consult on Balanced Approach to Regulation of airport noise: The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather input from stakeholders on the forthcoming evaluation of the Balanced Approach Regulation > which establishes a process for introducing noise-related operating restrictions at major European Union airports. The intention is to ensure Member States consider a comprehensive range of measures before imposing air traffic restrictions. View >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

On maximum residue levels for plant protection products: flupyradifurone and difluoroacetic acid > potassium phosphonate >

Developments to watch

DEFRA: Publish Blue tongue outbreak update: View >

Advertising Standards Authority: Uphold complaint re lack of qualification of ‘Most trusted brand’ claim by Hotpoint. View >

Environment Agency: Publish information on using its appeal processes. View >

For your information

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

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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.