Our contents this week:
Retail, Food & Hospitality updates
HM Treasury pledge to tackle the burden from Regulators and Regulation: The Government has concluded that regulation can be too complex and duplicative, stifling progress and innovation, businesses suffer from a lack of certainty and predictability from regulators and regulation and that our regulatory approach has become too risk averse. To tackle this the Government has set out a range of actions to ensure regulation Supports growth, is targeted and proportionate, Is transparent and predictable and adapts to keep pace with innovation. Establishing a baseline for the administrative costs of regulation and cutting costs by 25% by the end of the parliament. HM Treasury has committed to simplify regulatory structures and administrative processes and to review health and safety and environmental regulation. The Government has committed to review the Grocery and Pubs Code adjudicators. HM Treasury has published 60 commitments by individual regulators to reform including a pledge from the Food Standards Agency to reform Food Standards and Food hygiene inspections. Publication >News >UK Hospitality >
UK National pesticides action plan published: DEFRA Has published a UK wide national pesticides action plan and an associated document setting out more detail on the targets it contains. The plan aims to encourage uptake of integrated pest management (IPM), establish timetables and targets for the reduction of the use of pesticides and strengthen compliance to ensure safety and better environmental outcomes. The plan sets out targets for a 10% reduction across 20 metrics of a ‘pesticides load indicator’ by 2030, using 2018 as a baseline year. Publication >News >Friends of the Earth >
Regulator highlights duty of platforms to tackle illegal online content: OFCOM has highlighted the legal duty for online platforms to tackle illegal content from 16th March 2025. Having completed harm risk assessments platforms now have to start implementing appropriate measures to remove illegal material quickly when they become aware of it, and to reduce the risk of ‘priority’ criminal content from appearing in the first place. Services in scope of the Online Safety Act include search engines and ‘user-to-user’ services with a significant number of UK users or targeting the UK market. The Online Safety Act lists over 130 ‘priority offences’, and tech firms must assess and mitigate the risk of these occurring on their platforms. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has published an updated guide to the Online Safety Act.OFCOM >Government >
Advertising watchdog decides Father Christmas has appeal to under 18’s: The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint about the child appeal of Christmas Alcohol advertising for Bestway Retail Ltd T/A Bargain booze on the basis that in the way portrayed in the advertising Father Christmas had particular appeal to under 18’s.Ruling >News >
EU updates
EU Commission extends ‘adequacy decisions’ with UK: With this extension, the free flow of data with the UK would be maintained until 27 December 2025. This will allow time for the legislative process for the UK Data protection Bill to conclude. Once concluded, the Commission will assess the new legal framework and decide on its adequacy. In the meantime, the UK data protection rules that were found adequate in 2021 remain in place and continue to apply to data transferred from the EU.View >
EU Regulations:
- Authorising or extending authorisation of biocides:Bufa-Oxy WS > SG 35 Plus – in Belgium >Biobor JF – in UK>Biobor JF – In Malta >
- Amending authorisation:CVAS product family based on L+ lactic acid >
- Delisting biocide: Interkokask product family >
European Food Safety Authority opinions:
- On maximum residue limits in honey:acetamiprid >
- On feed additive for Salmonids: chromium chelate of DL-methionine >
- On maximum reside levels for plant protection product: meptylinocap >
Developments to watch
Office for Product Safety and Standards: Publish A-Z guide to product safety for business.View >
Hospitality trade bodies: Criticise packaging waste recovery obligation costs.UK Hospitality > British Beer and Pubs Association >
Cabinet Office: Highlight increases to minimum wage and national living wage from 1st April. View >
Ministry of Justice: Publish part 1 of independent review of sentencing by David Gaulke – history and trends. View >
DEFRA: Publish White paper on setting up of a Biosecurity centre in Weybridge. View >
For your information
Non-food product safety alerts: Office for Product Safety and Standards >EU Safety Gate >US Consumer Product Safety Commission >
US Food and Drugs Administration: Launch on-line food contaminants transparency tool.View >
Home Office: Publish outcome of a review of the Security Industry Authority. View >
