UK food and beverage regulations: what will 2025 bring?

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UK food business operators need to be prepared for change this year. There is still a high level of uncertainty over what will happen next for some proposals, such as those related to novel foods and precision-bred organisms (PBOs). However, decisive action has been taken on matters related to foods high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS).

Read on for more insights on regulatory trends in the UK.  If you’re not a member of Leatherhead Food Research, sign up for our special non-members webinar on 29 January: Horizon Scanning: Discover Key Shifts Ahead for Global Food Regulations

HFSS product marketing

Plans to clamp down on HFSS product marketing are progressing, and new measures have also been announced:

• It’s been confirmed that restrictions banning the advertising of HFSS products to children will come into effect across the UK on 1 October 2025
• Restrictions on multibuy price promotions for HFSS products (e.g., buy one, get one free) are still tabled for 1 October 2025 in England. However, the matter is still under consultation in Wales and Scotland. This could potentially result in disharmony across the UK nations
• The King’s Speech on 17 July 2024 indicated plans to ban the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. No further details have been announced.

‘Not for EU’ labels

Some products already need to carry ‘Not for EU’ labels when they are moved to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework and in line with the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. This marking will be required for additional products from July 2025.

Navigating changing regulations

In addition to the above changes, several consultation outcomes are likely to land in 2025 and other evolving requirements are set to be confirmed. For instance, a framework for the regulation of food or feed produced from PBOs was due to be laid before parliament last year. It was delayed due to the general election but could be reprioritised at any time. We’re also expecting to hear about next steps for the proposed reforms to novel foods authorisation following the consultation which closed on 5 June 2024.

Whatever the outcomes of these matters, there will be a lot of regulatory information to digest. Our expert consultants can pinpoint which developments are relevant to your business and quickly identify potential ramifications.

Join our webinar – 29 January, 2025

Mariko Kubo, Head of Global Regulatory, will be covering some of these topics in a specially-designed webinar for companies that aren’t already members of Leatherhead Food Research. If this applies to you, register now to gain an insight into the regulatory updates our members receive. The webinar will be held on Wednesday 29 January, 2025 at 15:00 – 15:40 (GMT) | 10:00 – 10:40 (EST).

Get in touch

In the meantime, contact us to discuss how our bespoke, expert-led regulatory horizon scanning service could support your business in 2025.