The Scottish Government today (June 17) has reaffirmed that high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) regulations will align with those already in place and scheduled in England.
In Scotland, the HFSS regulations will come into force 12 months after they are laid in the Scottish Parliament, although the exact date on which this takes place is yet to be determined. It is expected that the rules will come into force in Autumn 2026.
Under the HFSS regulations, retailers with 50 or more employees (symbol groups counted as an entire business not as an individual store) and relevant floor space over 2,000 sq ft will have to comply with restrictions on HFSS products at the end of aisles, at store entrances and within 2m of checkouts and queueing areas.
The proposed rules will also mean that regardless of store size, retailers with 50 or more employees will have to stop multibuy and volume promotions for HFSS products. Examples of volume promotions and multibuys are promotions like ‘50% extra free, ‘buy one get one free’ and ‘three for £10’.
In England, HFSS regulations on location restrictions have been in place since October 2022, with volume promotion restrictions being introduced in October 2025.
The Welsh Government has signified its intent to introduce comparable HFSS restrictions in Spring 2026, although the implementation date has not yet been confirmed.
Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed an announcement from the Scottish Government that incoming regulations on products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) will align with those already in place and scheduled in England.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “We welcome confirmation from the Scottish Government that HFSS regulations will be consistent across the UK, making implementation more straightforward for both the retailers who operate across borders and the manufacturers who supply them.
Nonetheless, HFSS regulations require significant planning, store adaptation and expense, so it is crucial that the Scottish Government provides clear, detailed guidance well in advance of the implementation date to avoid confusion for colleagues and customers in store.”
ACS has previously called on the Scottish Government to align its regulations with the rest of the UK to ensure that there is consistency for retailers, suppliers and customers.
The full consultation response from the Scottish Government is available here.
ACS has produced comprehensive guidance for retailers on adapting their businesses to comply with HFSS regulations, which is available here.
Retailers who trade as part of a fascia group should check with their symbol partners to see whether they meet the definition of a small business and are exempt from these regulations on that basis.
