Our contents this week:
Retail, Food & Hospitality updates
Business organisations comment on Autumn budget: The main comments are around changes to increase to employers’ national insurance contribution (from 13.8%-15%) and reduction of the earnings threshold to £5000, increase in level (6.7%) and removal of age bands from the living wage. Increase of the employment allowance for small businesses from £5k to 10.5K has been welcomed. The Sugar levy on soft drinks is to be raised in line with the consumer price index since its introduction in 2018 and extension to milk based drinks considered. Alcohol duty is to be reduced on draught products of below 8.5% Vol by 1.7%. Tobacco duty is to be increased by Consumer Prices index plus 2% for each year of this parliament and a flat rate levy on vaping products of £2.20 per 10ml introduced from October 2026. Overall, the Association of Convenience Stores estimate the changes will cost the convenience store sector two thirds of a billion pounds per annum and UK Hospitality has put the cost at an additional £2500 per full time employee. Autumn budget > A budget to rebiold Britain > British Retail Consortium > Association of Convenience Stores > UK Hospitality > CIEH Federation of Small Businesses > British Chambers of Commerce > Confederation of British Industry >
More Food recalls due to the presence of peanut in mustard ingredients: The Food Standards Agency has issued an 11th update since the discovery of peanut material in imported mustard that had been widely supplied for use as an ingredient in food products. There have been in the region of 150 product recalls so far and official advice remains to those affected by peanut allergies to avoid products containing mustard ingredients. View >
OFCOM league tables parcel delivery firms by customer satisfaction: OFCOM has used an annual ‘post monitoring survey’ ostensively on the performance of the Royal Mail to league table parcel delivery companies based on customer satisfaction with various aspects of their services. The report found that, while on average eight in 10 parcel recipients (78%) are satisfied with parcel firms, two thirds (67%) have had a delivery issue in the past six months with the most common issues being delivery delays (27%), parcels being left in an inappropriate location (23%), the delivery driver not knocking loudly enough (20%), and not being given sufficient time to answer the door (19%). Reported satisfaction levels ranged from 56% for Amazon to 32% for EVRI. View >
EU updates
EU Commission publish detailed reports on candidate countries for EU membership: The EU Commission has published detailed enlargement reports on Georgia, Turkey, Moldova, Ukraine and the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia). Timescales for potential accession are not set with the EU emphasising that countries must focus on accelerating structural reforms to enable sustainable growth and make progress in meeting the economic criteria for EU membership, ensuring functioning market economies and demonstrating they can withstand the competitive pressures of the EU market. Additionally, the EU emphasises that their economic policies should align with EU green and digital transition goals. View >
UK and EU Competition Authorities reach technical agreement on co-operation: The UK Competition and Markets Authority has reported reaching technical agreement with the EU Commission on a ‘Competition co-operation agreement’. The agreement intended to make it easier for cross border working between UK and competition authorities of the EU and its member states will require approval by UK and EU parliaments in 2025. View >
EU Regulations:
- On biocidal products: DEC-SPORE 200 > Phenogen >
European Food Safety Authority opinion:
- On food additives: Argon (E938) and Helium (E939) >
- On feed additives: ammonium proprionate > Lavender oil > Origanum oil > Tea tree oil > Lutein rich extract of Targeta erecta >
- On pesticides: bixlozone > penoxsulam >
- On maximum residue limits for plant protection products: picloram >
Developments to watch
Advertising Standards Authority: Publish details of campaign RE advertising of vaping products to under 18’s. View >
Gambling Commission: Publish industry data on market impact of gambling. View >
DEFRA: Announce extension to Bluetongue infected areas and restricted zones. View >
Payment Systems regulator: Highlights its work to secure rollout of ‘Confirmation of PAYEE’ system as an anti-fraud mechanism. View >
For your information
Non-food product safety alerts: Office for Product Safety and Standards > EU Safety Gate > US Consumer Product Safety Commission >
Marine Stewardship Council: Launch initiative to promote global take up of fisheries sustainability certification. View >
Rural Payment Agency: Publish analysis of its performance against the Regulators code. View >
