Implementation Guidance - The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (HFSS)

The Scottish Government has published The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 - Implementation Guidance.

This is guidance to support the implementation of The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 which were laid before the Scottish Parliament in October last year. Regulations align with equivalent policy in England and Wales and will come into force in Scotland from 1 October 2026.  

Regulations will

• target food categories that are significant contributors of calories, fat and sugar to the Scottish diet;

• restrict promotions of pre-packed food and drink products within targeted food categories that are HFSS;  

• restrict certain price promotions of targeted HFSS foods, such as multi-buy offers (for example buy one get one free) and free refills of soft drinks with added sugar; and

• restrict the placement of targeted HFSS foods in prominent locations in store when retail stores are over 185.8 square metres (or 2,000 square feet) and equivalent key locations online.

These restrictions apply to medium and large businesses (with 50 employees or more) which are a ‘qualifying business’ as described in the regulations.

SGF will continue to engage with the Scottish Government on these regulations and keep members updated.

Ahead of implementation, SGF will publish its own guidance document, specifically tailored for convenience retailers in Scotland.