The non-eligible postcode list was last updated on 22 August 2025 and HMRC work in cooperation with the relevant government departments on enforcement. However, as of 8 September the Foreign Secretary has announced an import ban on goods from Israeli Settlements. This ban will subsume our existing measures and by design is aimed at being disruptive to the economic drivers that help illegal settlements grow. Detailed guidance for businesses on the implications of this will be published alongside the legislation, and we will work closely with colleagues across government on the design and enforcement of these new measures.

The UK aims to maintain high standards on the information provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The UK expects food originating from Israeli settlements located in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 to be accurately labelled to prevent consumers being misled. All food sold on the UK market, including imported food, must comply with food labelling rules.

Defra continues to consider food labelling issues of importance to consumers and businesses, including the provision of guidance, and will provide further updates as this work progresses.

For information on the Government’s assessment of the potential impact of applying the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) to the advertising and promotions restrictions for less healthy food and drink products on business investment in reformulation and innovation, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on 31 March 2026 in response to Question 120152. And for consumer behaviour and trends in people choosing more or less healthy options within categories, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for South West Wiltshire on 1 July 2026 in response to Question 8994.

We are also committed to publishing a Post-Implementation Review (PIR) of the advertising restrictions and promotions restrictions policies by 2030 for advertising restrictions and 2027 for promotions restrictions, which will assess the effectiveness of the policies and their impact on businesses and the public.

For information on what way the measuring of free sugars impacts the implementation of the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model, free sugars cannot be measured through a laboratory test and must instead be calculated using information on ingredients, product composition, and processing. We have published technical guidance, plus additional guidance including worked examples, and continue to engage stakeholders on practical solutions to support consistent free sugar calculations and application of NPM 2018.

For the potential risk of regulatory breaches, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Daventry on 29 April 2026 in response to Question 127074.

The consultation on proposals to apply NPM 2018 to the advertising and promotions restrictions closed on 17 June 2026. The Department is now considering the feedback received and will set out further steps in due course.

For information on the Government’s assessment of the potential impact of applying the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) to the advertising and promotions restrictions for less healthy food and drink products on business investment in reformulation and innovation, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on 31 March 2026 in response to Question 120152. And for consumer behaviour and trends in people choosing more or less healthy options within categories, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for South West Wiltshire on 1 July 2026 in response to Question 8994.

We are also committed to publishing a Post-Implementation Review (PIR) of the advertising restrictions and promotions restrictions policies by 2030 for advertising restrictions and 2027 for promotions restrictions, which will assess the effectiveness of the policies and their impact on businesses and the public.

For information on what way the measuring of free sugars impacts the implementation of the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model, free sugars cannot be measured through a laboratory test and must instead be calculated using information on ingredients, product composition, and processing. We have published technical guidance, plus additional guidance including worked examples, and continue to engage stakeholders on practical solutions to support consistent free sugar calculations and application of NPM 2018.

For the potential risk of regulatory breaches, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Daventry on 29 April 2026 in response to Question 127074.

The consultation on proposals to apply NPM 2018 to the advertising and promotions restrictions closed on 17 June 2026. The Department is now considering the feedback received and will set out further steps in due course.

This Government currently has no plans to change the rules governing the labelling of juice content in cider and perry products. Defra continues to engage with stakeholders on issues relating to cider and perry production and labelling.

The Price Marking Order (PMO) requires traders to display the selling price and, where applicable, the unit price for goods, enabling consumers to compare similar products and assess value for money. The PMO was recently updated so products sold by weight or volume must show unit prices in kilograms or litres. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 confirmed that the price displayed on the shelf must be the price the consumer pays. The Government engaged extensively with industry on these proposals and keeps them under review to support consistent pricing information for consumers.

Country of origin information is required for certain products, including fresh and frozen pig meat. It is also required for all prepacked food where its omission would be misleading to consumers.

Under existing rules, food that is not classed as of UK origin cannot be sold or labelled as being British. Processed foods (such as bacon and sausages) and composite foods that are made in the UK, are British.

We continue to monitor how origin information is presented and the commitments supermarkets have made, and are considering what more can be done to help consumers make informed choices.

Food labelling legislation means that pre-packaged food must include back of pack nutritional information. This includes total salt content.

In addition, food businesses can voluntarily provide nutritional information on the front-of-pack. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling helps to support healthier choices by showing complex nutritional information, including salt, to consumers in a way that is easy and quick to understand. The United Kingdom was one of the first to introduce a national front-of-pack labelling system, and the voluntary Multiple Traffic Light scheme has been in place across the UK since 2013. Manufacturers and retailers are encouraged to provide a label on as many of their products as possible where the information is meaningful for consumers.

We will continue to review the evidence on front-of-pack nutrition labelling and consider, with devolved administrations, whether further action is needed in the future. If changes to front-of-pack nutrition labelling are required, we will consult on proposed policy changes.

As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, and the Farming Roadmap published in June 2026, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how and where their food was produced.

To support this, we will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. We will set out next steps in due course.

We will also continue to review origin labelling, using the outcomes of the Fairer Food Labelling consultation as supporting evidence for future labelling policy.

The UK is committed to full, faithful, and timely implementation of the Windsor Framework, including the 'Not for EU' labelling requirements of the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. Defra continually reviews compliance with the Windsor Framework to ensure the UK meets its international obligations.

The Government is negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU, the benefits of which will flow to movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This depends on the UK showing itself to be a trusted partner by continuing to faithfully implement its existing Windsor Framework commitments.

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement is still being negotiated and the final list of legislation in scope remains subject to negotiations. The Government has begun publishing sector specific information to help businesses get ready.

Changes to jam rules may require some businesses to change the composition or labelling of their products. The scale of these impacts on taste and cost will be dependent on the nature of the business, and type of jam products they produce. Hence the proportion of products affected, and the extent of change will vary, and in some cases, businesses may not need to change anything at all.

The new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) aligns with the latest United Kingdom dietary recommendations, particularly on free sugars and fibre, ensuring it reflects current evidence and remains a robust, evidence-based tool for identifying less healthy foods.

The new NPM is based on a review of the UK NPM 2004/05 to reflect changes to UK dietary recommendations since its development, which was undertaken by the former Public Health England, with the advice of an independent expert group, the NPM Expert Group.

The NPM Expert Group agreed not to develop a model from first principles, including making modifications to the theoretical basis of the UK NPM 2004/05. This included changing the base from per 100 grams to per portion size, which was extensively considered during the development of the NPM 2004/05.

The evidence base and modelling underpinning the NPM 2018 was published as part of the 2018 consultation, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-uk-nutrient-profiling-model-2018-review

Following the consultation, the NPM Expert Group considered the feedback, undertook further modelling, and agreed a final updated NPM.

The Government published the new NPM on 27 January. This includes the NPM 2018 Review and Consultation Outcome, associated UK NPM technical guidance, the UK NPM Expert Group responses to the points raised in the 2018 consultation, and the further modelling undertaken by the UK NPM Expert Group.

The Government will always be guided by the evidence. This is the first update to the NPM in 20 years. There are no further updates to the model planned, including consideration of portion size.

The new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) aligns with the latest United Kingdom dietary recommendations, particularly on free sugars and fibre, ensuring it reflects current evidence and remains a robust, evidence-based tool for identifying less healthy foods.

The new NPM is based on a review of the UK NPM 2004/05 to reflect changes to UK dietary recommendations since its development, which was undertaken by the former Public Health England, with the advice of an independent expert group, the NPM Expert Group.

The NPM Expert Group agreed not to develop a model from first principles, including making modifications to the theoretical basis of the UK NPM 2004/05. This included changing the base from per 100 grams to per portion size, which was extensively considered during the development of the NPM 2004/05.

The evidence base and modelling underpinning the NPM 2018 was published as part of the 2018 consultation, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-uk-nutrient-profiling-model-2018-review

Following the consultation, the NPM Expert Group considered the feedback, undertook further modelling, and agreed a final updated NPM.

The Government published the new NPM on 27 January. This includes the NPM 2018 Review and Consultation Outcome, associated UK NPM technical guidance, the UK NPM Expert Group responses to the points raised in the 2018 consultation, and the further modelling undertaken by the UK NPM Expert Group.

The Government will always be guided by the evidence. This is the first update to the NPM in 20 years. There are no further updates to the model planned, including consideration of portion size.

On 18 March, we published our report and impact assessment on copyright and AI. This set out where we will do more work with our creative and AI sectors. The Government recognises that labelling AI-generated content can improve transparency for consumers by helping them understand when content has been created using AI. This summer we will establish a taskforce on the labelling of AI‑generated content, which will publish an interim report in autumn 2026. Further details on the taskforce will be set out in due course.

On 18 March, we published our report and impact assessment on copyright and AI. This set out where we will do more work with our creative and AI sectors. The Government recognises that labelling AI-generated content can improve transparency for consumers by helping them understand when content has been created using AI. This summer we will establish a taskforce on the labelling of AI‑generated content, which will publish an interim report in autumn 2026. Further details on the taskforce will be set out in due course.

On 18 March, we published our report and impact assessment on copyright and AI. This set out where we will do more work with our creative and AI sectors. The Government recognises that labelling AI-generated content can improve transparency for consumers by helping them understand when content has been created using AI. This summer we will establish a taskforce on the labelling of AI‑generated content, which will publish an interim report in autumn 2026. Further details on the taskforce will be set out in due course.

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement is still being negotiated and the final list of legislation in scope remains subject to negotiations. This Government has begun publishing sector specific information to help businesses get ready.

As set out in this Government’s published information on legislation currently envisaged to be within scope of the SPS Agreement, alignment is expected to extend beyond the rules relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades. The areas currently identified include wider food information and consumer information requirements, nutrition labelling, nutrition and health claims, compositional standards and certain agri-food marketing standards.

The new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) is built on the latest science and has been updated in line with the latest dietary advice, particularly in relation to free sugars, which are more strongly correlated with poor health outcomes, including obesity.

The Government committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink by applying the new NPM. Applying the new NPM to these policies is expected to reduce a further 110,000 cases of childhood obesity.

The NPM is used as part of a two-step process to determine ‘less healthy’ food or drink products in scope of the advertising and promotions restrictions. Products must first fall within one of the product categories in the legislation and second, score four or above for food, or one or above for drink in an NPM assessment. Confectionery, including chocolates and sweets, are one of the categories in scope of the restrictions.

We published the new NPM on 27 January 2026. On 25 March 2026, we launched a 12-week consultation seeking views on its proposed application to the advertising and promotions restrictions. The consultation closed on 17 June 2026. Alongside the consultation, we published a consultation-stage impact assessment, setting out the direct costs to businesses for the proposed application of the new NPM to these restrictions and invited views on this assessment.

We have engaged extensively with stakeholders throughout the consultation period and sought further evidence on the potential impacts of the proposals as part of the consultation process. We will use evidence from the consultation and our extensive engagement with stakeholders to inform final policy decisions and the final impact assessment, which will be published ahead of any legislative changes being made.

Under our current system, food imported from abroad, often from countries with lower standards, can be packaged in the UK but labelled as British. To stop “flagwashing”, and to back our British farmers, will the Minister back the Labour rural research group’s calls to introduce a mandatory labelling system, based on the blueprint set out by Australia’s country-of-origin labelling standard?

I thank my hon. Friend for his work on those important matters. This is about fairness for consumers and farmers. We want people to know where their food comes from, trust what they are buying, and back British farmers who meet our high standards. I would happily meet my hon. Friend to discuss his helpful ideas.

The labelling of packaged foods and drinks plays an important role in helping individuals access the information they need to make informed choices about the food they buy. Food labelling legislation sets out the information that must be displayed on a product’s labelling or packaging, including the ingredients list, the nutrition declaration, and any voluntary food information provided by businesses.

The key nutrients that must be included in the nutrition declaration on a mandatory basis, regardless of the amount, are the most relevant to current public health concerns in Great Britain at a population level. A standardised set of nutrients ensures consumers can easily compare products, and requiring too many nutrients to be included on a mandatory basis may complicate labels and make comparisons harder.

Our laws are clear: the UK has a zero-tolerance approach to asbestos in consumer products. Where it is identified, businesses that supplied affected products must recall them, taking all reasonable steps to identify and notify affected consumers, and publishing information to raise broader awareness. Local Authorities are overseeing product recalls led by businesses within their areas, ensuring these are effective and follow best practices. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local authorities have powers to take further action where business actions are not effective in mitigating the risks. Recalls are published by OPSS on GOV.UK to further raise awareness.

The new Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) is built on the latest science and has been updated in line with the latest dietary advice, particularly in relation to free sugars, which are more strongly correlated with poor health outcomes, including obesity.

The Government committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink by applying the new NPM. Applying the new NPM to these policies is expected to reduce a further 110,000 cases of childhood obesity. We published the new NPM on 27 January 2026, and on 25 March 2026 we launched a 12-week consultation on its proposed application to the restrictions, as well as a consultation-stage impact assessment.

The consultation-stage impact assessment includes impacts on businesses.

The impact assessment takes account of likely consumer behaviour, using recent purchasing data and modelling which includes assumptions about how consumers and businesses may respond to the restrictions. This could include consumers switching between products and retailers using alternative promotional activity. These assumptions were tested through sensitivity analysis.

We have engaged extensively with stakeholders throughout the consultation period and sought further evidence on the potential impacts of the proposals as part of the consultation process. We will use the evidence gathered to inform the final impact assessment which, subject to the outcome of the consultation, would be published ahead of any legislative changes being made.

The UK did not object to the food labelling provisions in emergencies guidelines via circular letter. Defra engaged actively throughout the Codex process, working with Members to strengthen consumer protection. The UK secured clarification that any temporary, justified labelling flexibilities may only be applied by competent authorities and must not introduce risks to consumers, particularly vulnerable groups such as infants.

The agreed draft represents a balanced compromise reached by consensus, with no outstanding reservations from Codex Members on the final text. Competent authorities of Codex Members can already grant temporary flexibilities during emergencies; these guidelines provide a framework for their consistent and appropriate application.

The new Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) is built on the latest science and has been updated in line with the latest dietary advice, particularly in relation to free sugars, which are more strongly correlated with poor health outcomes, including obesity.

The Government committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink by applying the new NPM. Applying the new NPM to these policies is expected to reduce a further 110,000 cases of childhood obesity. We published the new NPM on 27 January 2026, and on 25 March 2026 we launched a 12-week consultation on its proposed application to the restrictions, as well as a consultation-stage impact assessment.

The consultation-stage impact assessment includes impacts on businesses.

The impact assessment takes account of likely consumer behaviour, using recent purchasing data and modelling which includes assumptions about how consumers and businesses may respond to the restrictions. This could include consumers switching between products and retailers using alternative promotional activity. These assumptions were tested through sensitivity analysis.

We have engaged extensively with stakeholders throughout the consultation period and sought further evidence on the potential impacts of the proposals as part of the consultation process. We will use the evidence gathered to inform the final impact assessment which, subject to the outcome of the consultation, would be published ahead of any legislative changes being made.

The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) National Food Crime Unit monitors UK food fraud through intelligence-led analysis, which supports the shaping of targeted food fraud investigations.

Defra officials and the FSA work closely with local authority food teams who enforce food labelling rules across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to address labels that may be misleading or non-compliant.

Where there is a public health risk, the FSA issues alerts and product recalls to protect the public. Trading Standards and Environmental Health officers undertake inspections and sampling at both retail and wholesale premises and have powers to take enforcement action where necessary.

On 18 March, we published our report and impact assessment on copyright and AI. This set out where we will do more work with our creative and AI sectors. This summer we will launch a consultation on digital replicas; establish a taskforce on the labelling of AI‑generated content, which will publish an interim report in autumn 2026; and set up a working group to support independent and smaller creatives. Further details will be set out in due course, including on the creator control review and the composition of the taskforce and working group.

Defra cannot comment regarding an ongoing legal case.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink products by applying the new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM). The Government published the new NPM on 27 January. The new NPM is built on the latest science and has been updated in line with the latest dietary advice, particularly in relation to free sugars, which are more strongly correlated with poor health outcomes, including obesity.

A full public consultation on the proposed application of the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions closed on 17 June. This consultation sought feedback on the impact and challenges of applying the new NPM, including on the effectiveness of the restrictions in capturing products of most concern to children’s health.

A consultation-stage impact assessment was published alongside the consultation. The impact assessment indicates that if the calorie reductions are achieved, it could reduce cases of childhood obesity by up to 110,000, on top of their existing health benefits of these policies.

The impact assessment takes account of likely consumer behaviour, using recent purchasing data and modelling which includes assumptions about how consumers and businesses may respond to the restrictions. This could include consumers switching between products and retailers using alternative promotional activity. These assumptions were tested through sensitivity analysis.

We will use evidence from the consultation to inform final policy decisions and the final impact assessment which, subject to the outcome of the consultation, would be published ahead of any changes being made.

Detailed impact assessments for the current advertising and promotions restrictions can be found on the GOV.UK website. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the restrictions and will publish Post Implementation Reviews within five years of the restrictions taking legal effect.

As part of the UK-EU SPS Agreement currently being negotiated, the Government is making a sovereign choice in the national interest to align in some areas where it makes sense to do so, as set out in the Government’s recently published announcement on legislation in scope. This includes the marketing standards elements of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013, which will apply to GB once the agreement is implemented.

The Government is aware of the EU’s draft legislation seeking to amend these rules, including proposals to prevent use of meat-related terms for the marketing of products which do not contain meat. Defra cannot confirm what products may be captured in scope of these proposals as they have not yet been adopted, but the department is monitoring their progress through the EU legislative process.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Putney, Fleur Anderson, on 29 January 2026, PQ UIN 106592.

This government is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever. Schools are required to follow the school food standards to ensure that all children can access a healthy, nutritious meal while at school.

We have published guidance and resources for schools to help them deliver a range of tasty and nutritious meals, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools.

Headteachers, school governors and caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies, considering local circumstances and to ensure appropriate provision for cultural, religious and special dietary requirements.

This Government is currently negotiating the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the EU to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and removing trade barriers for British producers and retailers.

This Government has made a choice to align with the EU in some areas where it makes sense to do so in our national interest.

The UK is building a new, pragmatic relationship with Europe. The Government will have a decision-shaping role for relevant EU rules.

While those negotiations are ongoing, Defra cannot comment further on the SPS agreement.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to consult on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV. The Government also committed to explore options to restrict access to alcohol-free and low alcohol products, so they are treated in the same ways as all alcohol products, including banning sales to children aged under 18 years old.

Engagement sessions, where these two commitments were discussed, with public health stakeholders, producers and retailers, have recently concluded.

Departmental officials are reviewing the insights and evidence gathered from these sessions, and the evidence base more generally, to inform policy development and determine next steps. We will update stakeholders in due course.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to consult on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV. The Government also committed to explore options to restrict access to alcohol-free and low alcohol products, so they are treated in the same ways as all alcohol products, including banning sales to children aged under 18 years old.

Engagement sessions, where these two commitments were discussed, with public health stakeholders, producers and retailers, have recently concluded.

Departmental officials are reviewing the insights and evidence gathered from these sessions, and the evidence base more generally, to inform policy development and determine next steps. We will update stakeholders in due course.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has considered the impact of processed foods and health in 2023 and 2025. The limitations in the available evidence on processed and ultra-processed foods and health means it is unclear whether these foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or because a large majority of processed and ultra-processed foods are high in calories, saturated fat, salt and/or free sugars. The SACN recommends that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, saturated fat, salt, free sugars, and low in fibre.

Given these limitations in the evidence base, the Government has no current plans to introduce labelling based on the level of processing and instead focuses on providing clear information on the nutrients most strongly linked to health outcomes.

Food labelling legislation already requires pre-packaged food and drink to include a mandatory nutrition declaration, providing information on energy and key nutrients including fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt. In addition, voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling, such as the multiple traffic light scheme, provides clear, at-a-glance information to help consumers identify foods high in these nutrients.

Food labelling legislation requires that pre-packaged food and drinks include a mandatory nutrition declaration, which provides information on energy, in kilojoules and kilocalories, and key nutrients, including fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt, in grams.

In addition, voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling, most commonly the multiple traffic light scheme, is widely used in the United Kingdom and provides clear, at-a-glance information on levels of energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt to support consumer understanding.

Information on trans fats is not included in the list of mandatory nutrients but there is a limit in legislation on the amount of trans fat permitted in food.

For these reasons, we have no plans to mandate labelling on packaged food products to indicate excess salt, fat, sugar, or calories.

The UK aims to maintain high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. All food sold on the UK market must comply with food labelling rules and the information provided to the consumer must not mislead.

As negotiations are ongoing with the EU on an SPS agreement, Defra is working with the Food Standards Agency in Wales and Food Standards Scotland to assess any changes necessary and will continue to focus on upholding our existing high food standards, protecting consumers, supporting businesses and consumer choice.