ScotGov publish Scottish HFSS regulations

ScotGov publish The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (HFSS) – Fri 31st October

The Scottish Government has published The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 which have now been laid before the Scottish Parliament.  This step delivers one of the first actions under the Population Health Framework. These regulations seek to make the balance of products available on promotion healthier and reduce overconsumption of HFSS products.

The Regulations have been laid alongside the final Business Regulatory Impact Assessment. A full suite of impact assessments will be published on the Scottish Government website and will include: 

• Equality Impact Assessment

• Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment  

• Island Community Impact Assessment

• Fairer Scotland Duty Summary

• Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

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 and online.

Regulations align with equivalent policy in England and Wales and will come into force from 1 October 2026, ensuring businesses have sufficient time to prepare. Work has commenced with key business stakeholders to deliver clear implementation guidance that builds on material published in England and Wales. 

SGF will continue to engage with the Scottish Government on these regulations and ensure there are sufficient guidelines for our sector in place.