Welcome to the Retail, Food & Hospitality Regulatory & EU round-up. Week ending 08 November 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

Welsh Government consult on ban on sale of high caffeine energy drinks to under 16’s: The Welsh Government has launched a consultation to ban the sale of energy drinks containing more than 150mg/L of caffeine from sale to under 16’s. The consultation seeks views on the proposed enforcement framework, including online age-verification arrangements, assessing compliance activity, sanctions, implementation timescales and monitoring arrangements. A six months transitional period is proposed from the time regulations are finalised. A similar ban is scheduled to come into force in England in April 2027. Responses to the consultation are required by 17 December. Cabinet consideration > Consultation > Association of Convenience Stores >

Competition and Markets Authority: Write open letter to online businesses on need to include mandatory delivery fees in product costs throughout the sales process. This builds on the CMA's investigations to date under the DMCCA and while easy to say given the technological limitations of many websites may present a technology challenge to compliance. View >

Advertising Standards Authority: Reject complaint re Walker’s oven-baked crisps as not a ‘less healthy’ food in latest ruling on the new HFSS rules.

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Government responds to consultation on supervision of the use of facial recognition technology: The Home Office has responded to its recent consultation by confirming the Governments intention to introduce a new statutory framework for use of biometrics, facial recognition, and similar technologies by law enforcement and other public bodies. The new framework will also include measures to ensure consistency between law enforcement and private sector approaches, while recognising their distinct legal and operational contexts. The Home Office is to bring forward a Code of Practice for private-sector use for the prevention and detection of crime recognising the distinct legal and operational contexts in which these technologies are used. View > Association of Convenience Stores >

Parliamentary statement delivered on securing responsible business conduct: Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has announced that the Government is to legislate to introduce a mandatory human rights due diligence regime across the UK for services, and in Great Britain for goods. Only the largest businesses, with the capability and leverage to manage these risks within their supply chains, will be in scope. It will apply to UK businesses with a global turnover of over £350 million, as well as non-UK businesses with a UK-generated turnover of over £350 million. These businesses will be required to identify, assess and address risks of human rights abuses and labour exploitation within their operations and supply chains. View > Ethical Trading Initiative > British Retail Consortium >

EU updates

EU Commission: Finds social media and technology company in breach of Digital Services Act: The European Commission has preliminarily found the company in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for the so-called ‘rabbit hole effect' of its recommender system. The companies ‘For You' feed shows users a continuous stream of personalised videos, even when those are related to mental health struggles and body image. The Commission preliminarily found that the company did not adequately assess how its recommendation algorithm may lead users into such ‘rabbit holes', putting their wellbeing at risk. The Commission may impose a fine on the company of up to 6% of global turnover depending upon its response. View >

EU Commission launch consultation on the repairability of products: The consultation invites feedback on current repairability challenges faced by consumers and repairers, as well as on possible measures to improve repairability, including: Access to spare parts, Availability of repair and maintenance information, Software and firmware requirements, Easier disassembly and reassembly, Repairability scores or information at the point of sale. Responses are required by 9 February 2027.

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EU Council publish position on simplification of energy and tyre labelling: The Irish EU Presidency has highlighted its agreement to the Commission simplification proposals including flexibility as regards the format for energy labels accompanying products while maintaining the possibility to obtain printed labels on request.

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European Court of Justice rule on deciding whether there is confusion between chemical and food packaging: In a case involving a Swedish Laundry detergent company the court has provided six tests that should be used to determine whether there is confusion between packaging for a chemical and a food product. View >

Client Earth criticise EU president over proposed review of nature protection regulations:

EU Regulations:

Authorising biocide: PAA based disinfectants-BPF2 >

European Food Safety Authority opinions:

Peer review of pesticide risk assessments: Caprylic acid > Capric acid > Cypermethrin > Trichoderma gamsii > Trichoderma asperellum > Bacillus velezensis >

Modification of maximum residue levels: Cycloxydim >

Developments to watch

British Chambers of Commerce: Publish report calling for change in UK-EU trading relationship. View >

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

Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator: Urges farmers to speak up over unfair supply chain contracts. View > View >

Friends of the Earth: Highlight successful complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority re environmental claims made by timber certification body. View >

Health and Safety Executive: Announce strengthening asbestos removal standards. View >

For your information

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

Home Office: Note sign up by Wickes to voluntary code of practice on knife sales: View >

Health and Safety Executive: Publish report of Rodenticide stewardship overview group. View >

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