Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 31 August 2025

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

Consultation on applications for CBD novel food authorisation: The Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation on the first three potential novel food authorisations for CBD food products. The applications cover “synthetic cannabidiol (CBD)”, “cannabidiol (CBD) isolate” and “isolated cannabidiol (CBD) derived from hemp (Cannabis sativa)” as novel foods. The FSA‘s draft recommendations include the proposal that all authorised CBD products should carry clear warning labels stating:

Not suitable for persons under the age of 18
Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding or for those trying to conceive
Those taking medications or who are immunosuppressed should consult a healthcare professional before use

Responses required by 20 November. View >

Government plans to modernise environmental permitting: DEFRA have issued a consultation on very detailed proposals to reform the Environmental permitting system for the industrial and energy sectors under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 following up recommendations from the independent Corry review. The current proposals are for England only. Proposals include use of regulatory sand boxes, new registration process for low-risk installations, agile standards and increased regulator effectiveness and efficiency. Responses required by 21^st October. View >

Competition and markets Authority updates compliance guidance: The Competition and Markets Authority has updated its six principles of consumer law compliance for on-line platforms and its business guidance on on-line reviews to take into account the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. Principles for social media platforms > Guidance for businesses and brands >

Scottish Trading Standards numbers continue in decline in Scotland: A survey by the Society of Chief Trading Standards Officers in Scotland has found a continuing decline in numbers of qualified Trading Standards Officers employed by Local Authorities and also a concerning age demographic. The number of qualified TSO’s in Scotland has fallen below 250 for the first time with 60% of those remaining being over 50 years of age. 22 out of 32 councils now operate with 8 or fewer staff up from 15 in 2013. View >

EU updates

EU DG Taxation and Customs Union publish report on customs controls and product compliance:

The Report presents and analyses the statistical data submitted by Member States regarding product compliance controls by customs and market surveillance authorities at the EU external borders pursuant to Chapter VII of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and compliance of products. The report provides a comparison over the last three years of three indicators interventions, suspensions and refusals on product compliance control. Across the EU, customs refused an average of 13 items per million products released in 2024 due to non-compliance or serious risks. However, during this period, the expansion of e-commerce-driven imports outpaced the rate at which control measures were implemented. Refusal of entry at the border between member states ranged from 175 to 0.1 items per million. Total number of imported items released rose from 1.5 billion in 2022 to 4.8 billion in 2024 a 353% increase overwhelming customs authorities. View >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

Novel food application: rhamnogalacturonan-l enriched carrot fibre >
Pesticide risk assessment: prothioconazole >
Maximum residue limits: imazalil >

Developments to watch

DEFRA: Publish updates on disease outbreaks as at 28 August Bird flu > Blue tongue >

OFCOM: Announce investigation of Duplanto Ltd over compliance with online age verification requirements. View >

Competition and Markets Authority: Publishes its response to statutory review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator. View > View >

For your information

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

Drinkaware: Publish research showing impact of friends of family on alcohol consumption habits. View >

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