Food and drink regulations and traceability

Guide summary

Use voluntary colour-coded labels on high-fat, salt, sugar (HFSS) products if you choose. If you are a retailer in England with over 2,000m² floor space, you must not place HFSS products at checkouts or offer volume promotions from 1 October 2025. Keep records of your suppliers and customers for traceability. If you make alcoholic drinks above 1.2% ABV for sale, you must hold an Alcoholic Products Producer Approval (APPA) from HMRC and pay duty by strength band.

Use voluntary front-of-pack colour-coded labels for HFSS products
Do not place HFSS products at checkouts or entrances in England since Oct 2022
Do not offer volume price promotions on HFSS products from Oct 2025
Record supplier name, address, product description, batch number, quantity, date
Keep traceability records for at least 6 months (perishable) or 5 years (long-life)
Withdraw unsafe food immediately and notify the FSA
Register for APPA with HMRC if you produce alcohol above 1.2% ABV for sale
Pay alcohol duty per litre of pure alcohol – rates from 1 Feb 2026
Claim Small Producer Relief if you produce under 4,500 hectolitres of pure alcohol a year
Train staff on HFSS location rules and allergen alert procedures

Front-of-pack and HFSS labelling

High Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) products face voluntary labelling schemes and mandatory promotion restrictions:

Front-of-Pack HFSS Labelling (High Fat, Salt and Sugar)

Voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme showing colour-coded labels (red, amber, green) for fat, saturates, sugars and salt content. While voluntary, major retailers and manufacturers widely adopt this scheme. Separate mandatory regulations restrict promotion and advertising of HFSS products.

Front-of-pack nutrition labels (voluntary)

The Department of Health's voluntary front-of-pack labelling scheme shows per portion and per 100g:

Energy (kJ and kcal)
Fat
Saturates
Sugars
Salt

Each nutrient is colour-coded:

Red: High
Amber: Medium
Green: Low

HFSS promotion restrictions (England)

In England, products high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) are subject to location and promotion restrictions in larger retailers under the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021:

Since 1 October 2022, cannot be displayed at checkouts, store entrances, aisle ends, or online equivalents
Since 1 October 2025, cannot be promoted through volume price offers (e.g., 'buy one get one free', '3 for 2')
Applies to retailers over 2,000m² floor space (around 50+ employees)

HFSS status is determined by the Nutrient Profiling Model which scores products based on energy, saturated fat, total sugar, sodium, fruit/veg/nut content, fibre, and protein.

These restrictions apply in England only. Wales has its own regime under the Food (Promotion and Presentation) (Wales) Regulations 2025, in force from 26 March 2026. Scotland and Northern Ireland have not introduced equivalent promotion restrictions.

Products exempt from HFSS restrictions

Drinks not less than 75% milk
Powdered drinks that become <1% fat when made up
Products specifically formulated for babies and young children

Front-of-pack labelling decision: Decide whether to adopt voluntary colour-coded labelling
Nutrient calculation: Calculate nutrient values per 100g and per portion if adopting labelling
Colour coding determination: Determine colour coding using Department of Health thresholds
HFSS product identification: Identify HFSS products if you are a retailer over 2,000m² or online equivalent
Store layout compliance: Review store layout to ensure HFSS products are not in restricted locations
Promotion restrictions: Ensure promotions do not include volume offers on HFSS products
Staff training: Train staff on HFSS regulations and location requirements
Product reformulation: Consider reformulation to reduce HFSS classification for new product development

HFSS regulations and front-of-pack labelling (opens in a new tab)

Food traceability and recall obligations

All food businesses must maintain 'one step back, one step forward' traceability and respond to food safety incidents:

General Food Law - Traceability and Recall

EU Regulation 178/2002 (retained in UK law) requires food businesses to maintain traceability of food, feed, and ingredients 'one step back, one step forward'. Businesses must be able to identify suppliers and customers, and must withdraw or recall unsafe food from the market.

Traceability requirement: 'one step back, one step forward'

You must be able to identify:

One step back: Your suppliers (who you bought from)
One step forward: Your customers (who you sold to)

This does not apply to final consumers (individual customers in shops or restaurants).

Information to record

For suppliers:

Name and address of supplier
Description of product (including batch/lot number if available)
Quantity received
Date of delivery

For customers (business-to-business only):

Name and address of customer
Description of product sold
Quantity supplied
Date of dispatch

How long to keep records

Perishable products (short shelf life): Until use-by date plus 6 months
Long-life products: 5 years from date of supply

Food recall procedure

If you discover food is unsafe or does not comply with food safety requirements, you must:

Withdraw product: Remove from sale and distribution immediately
Notify FSA: Submit incident report if product has reached consumers
Recall product: Contact customers and request return if serious risk
Issue allergy alert: If undeclared allergen present, publish alert via FSA
Cooperate with authorities: Provide information and take corrective action

Allergy alerts

If a product contains an undeclared allergen or incorrect allergen information, this usually requires a product recall and publication of an allergy alert on the FSA website.

Traceability system: Implement system recording supplier details for all ingredients
Batch number recording: Record batch/lot numbers from suppliers on delivery
B2B customer records: Maintain records of business customer details and deliveries for B2B sales
Record retention: Ensure records are kept for minimum retention periods (6 months to 5 years)
Batch code linking: Link internal batch codes to supplier batch numbers for rapid tracing
Incident response plan: Create food incident response plan including recall procedures
Safety issue response: Immediately stop supply and notify FSA if product safety issue identified
Allergen alert preparation: Prepare to issue allergy alert via FSA system for allergen issues
FSA contact details: Keep FSA incident notification contact details accessible

Food alerts and product recalls (opens in a new tab)

Alcohol duty compliance

Alcoholic drink producers must understand and comply with duty rates and payment obligations:

Alcohol Duty - Producer Approval and Excise Duty

Producers of alcoholic products must hold an Alcoholic Products Producer Approval (APPA) from HMRC, account for alcohol duty at strength-based rates per litre of pure alcohol, and submit monthly returns. Small Producer Relief reduces duty on products below 8.5% ABV for producers making no more than 4,500 hectolitres of pure alcohol a year.

Producer approval (APPA)

Since 1 February 2025, anyone producing alcoholic products above 1.2% ABV for sale must hold an Alcoholic Products Producer Approval (APPA) from HMRC. A single approval covers all product types (beer, cider, wine, spirits and other fermented products) and replaced the previous separate producer registrations and the distiller's licence.

Alcohol duty rates (from 1 February 2026)

Duty is charged per litre of pure alcohol, by strength band:

All products at or below 3.4% ABV: £9.96
Beer 3.5-8.4% ABV: £22.58
Spirits, wine and other fermented products 3.5-8.4% ABV: £26.61
Still cider 3.5-8.4% ABV: £10.39
All products 8.5-22% ABV: £30.62
All products above 22% ABV: £33.99

Reduced draught rates apply to qualifying draught products below 8.5% ABV sold in large containers (for example, draught beer below 3.5% ABV £8.58 and draught beer 3.5-8.4% ABV £19.45 per litre of pure alcohol).

Small Producer Relief

Small Producer Relief (SPR) replaced Small Brewers Relief in August 2023. It applies only to products below 8.5% ABV made by producers whose total annual production is no more than 4,500 hectolitres of pure alcohol. The relief is tapered: the smallest producers receive the largest discounts, up to a maximum of 91.5% on the first 5 hectolitres of pure alcohol for beer, reducing as annual production approaches 4,500 hectolitres.

Returns and payment

Approved producers account for duty monthly through HMRC's Manage your Alcohol Duty online service. Submit your return by the 15th and pay by the 25th of the month following each accounting period.

Legal framework

The current regime is set out in the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023, which replaced the separate duty structures under the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979 with a single strength-based system.

Producer approval: Apply for an Alcoholic Products Producer Approval (APPA) before you start production - allow at least 45 working days
Small Producer Relief: Check eligibility (products below 8.5% ABV; no more than 4,500 hectolitres of pure alcohol a year) and claim tapered relief
Duty accounting system: Implement duty accounting system to track production volumes and duty liability
Monthly returns: Submit monthly returns by the 15th of the following month via Manage your Alcohol Duty
Monthly payment: Pay duty by the 25th of the following month
Production records: Maintain production records (volumes, ABV, duty calculations) for 6 years
Import declarations: Declare alcohol via Customs Declaration Service and pay duty for imports

Alcohol duty registration and rates (opens in a new tab)

Packaging regulations

All packaging must meet essential requirements for composition, minimisation, and recoverability:

Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations

All packaging placed on the UK market must meet essential requirements for composition (limits on heavy metals), reusability and recoverability, and minimisation of weight and volume. Businesses must maintain technical documentation demonstrating compliance.

Three essential requirements

All packaging must comply with:

1. Composition and reusable/recoverable nature

Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium) must not exceed 100 ppm in total
Packaging must be capable of being reused or recovered (recycling, composting, energy recovery)

2. Minimisation

Weight and volume must be minimised while maintaining safety, hygiene, and consumer acceptance
Must not contain components or materials in excess of requirements

3. Reuse or recovery targets

Reusable packaging must withstand minimum number of journeys
Recoverable packaging must meet minimum energy or material recovery values

Technical documentation requirement

You must hold or have access to technical documentation demonstrating compliance with essential requirements. This includes:

Analysis of packaging composition (materials, weights)
Justification of weight and volume used
Certificates from material suppliers confirming heavy metal limits
Evidence of recyclability or recoverability

Who is responsible

The 'packer/filler' (business that places goods in packaging) or importer is responsible for compliance and maintaining documentation.

Packaging review: Conduct packaging review to identify weight and volume minimisation opportunities
Heavy metal compliance: Request heavy metal compliance certificates from packaging suppliers
Technical documentation: Prepare technical file documenting material specifications and justification
Recyclability consideration: Consider recyclability and recycled content when specifying new packaging
Regular design review: Review packaging designs regularly to ensure ongoing minimisation
Record maintenance: Maintain records of packaging specifications and compliance evidence
Imported goods documentation: Ensure supplier provides technical documentation for imported packaged goods

Packaging essential requirements (opens in a new tab)

Waste and environmental obligations

Food businesses must comply with duty of care for waste, food waste separation from 31 March 2025, and trade effluent controls:

Environmental Protection - Waste Disposal and Trade Effluent

Food businesses must comply with waste management regulations including duty of care for waste disposal, trade effluent consents for wastewater discharge, and separation of food waste for commercial composting (larger businesses). Penalties for illegal disposal include unlimited fines and imprisonment.

Duty of care for waste

All businesses producing waste have a duty of care to:

Store waste securely to prevent escape
Only transfer waste to authorised carriers or exempt persons
Complete waste transfer notes describing the waste
Keep waste transfer records for at least 2 years

Failure to meet duty of care is a criminal offence with unlimited fines.

Food waste separation (from March 2025)

From 31 March 2025, all food businesses (except smallest) must separate food waste for collection and commercial composting or anaerobic digestion. You cannot:

Mix food waste with general waste
Send food waste to incineration or landfill if separation is possible

This applies to businesses and organisations that produce more than a de minimis amount of food waste.

Trade effluent consent

If your business discharges wastewater containing food waste, fats, oils, or chemicals to the sewer, you need a trade effluent consent from your water company:

Restaurants and commercial kitchens
Food manufacturers
Breweries and dairies

Discharge without consent is a criminal offence. Water companies charge for trade effluent based on volume and strength (chemical oxygen demand).

Grease traps

Many food businesses require grease traps (grease separators) to prevent fats, oils, and grease entering drainage systems. Water companies can require installation as a condition of trade effluent consent.

Waste producer registration: Register with Environment Agency as a waste producer if required
Licensed waste carrier: Contract with licensed waste carrier and obtain copy of their waste carrier licence
Waste transfer notes: Complete waste transfer notes for all waste collections
Documentation retention: Keep waste transfer documentation for at least 2 years
Food waste separation: Arrange separate food waste collection with licensed contractor from March 2025
Trade effluent consent: Apply for trade effluent consent from water company if discharging wastewater to sewer
Grease trap installation: Install and maintain grease trap if required by water company
Grease trap maintenance: Empty grease trap regularly and dispose of contents via licensed waste contractor
Drainage protection: Never discharge fats, oils or food waste directly to drains

Waste duty of care (opens in a new tab)

Animal by-products regulations

Catering waste and food containing animal products must be disposed of correctly under ABP regulations:

Animal By-Products Regulations (ABP)

Businesses handling animal by-products (catering waste, meat, fish, dairy waste) must comply with controls on collection, transport, storage, and disposal. ABP is classified into three categories by risk level. Most catering waste is Category 3 and must be disposed via approved processors.

What are animal by-products?

Animal by-products (ABP) are entire bodies or parts of animals, or products of animal origin not intended for human consumption. This includes:

Catering waste (any food waste from catering premises containing or having contacted meat or fish)
Meat and fish trimmings
Dairy products no longer fit for consumption
Shells from shellfish
Animal carcases

ABP Categories

Category 1 (highest risk): TSE risk material, illegal meat, pet animals

Category 2 (medium risk): Manure, digestive tract content, condemned meat

Category 3 (lowest risk): Parts fit for human consumption but not used (catering waste, former foodstuffs)

Most food business waste is Category 3.

Key requirements

Collection: Must use approved ABP transporter
Storage: Must be stored securely in leakproof containers
Disposal: Must go to approved ABP processor (not general waste)
Records: Commercial documents must accompany all ABP movements
Separation: Category 3 ABP must be kept separate from non-ABP waste

Swill feeding ban

It is illegal to feed catering waste to livestock (pigs, poultry). This has been banned since 2001 following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Severe penalties apply.

ABP identification: Identify if your business produces animal by-products (catering waste containing meat/fish)
Approved collector: Contract with an approved ABP collector (check APHA register)
Storage containers: Provide leakproof, secure containers for ABP storage
Waste separation: Store ABP separate from general waste
Commercial documents: Ensure commercial documents accompany all ABP collections
Record keeping: Keep ABP disposal records for at least 2 years
Disposal restrictions: Never dispose of ABP via general waste, compost, or feeding to animals
Butchery registration: Register as an ABP producer with APHA if operating a butchery

Animal by-products regulations (opens in a new tab)

Key compliance actions

Implement traceability system recording all suppliers and business customers
Keep records for minimum retention periods (6 months to 5 years depending on product)
Prepare food incident response plan including recall procedures
Contract with approved ABP collector if handling meat or fish waste
Arrange separate food waste collection from 31 March 2025
Apply for trade effluent consent if discharging to sewer
Maintain packaging technical documentation demonstrating essential requirements compliance
Review HFSS status of products if operating large retail premises

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Food Safety Act 1990 Primary 1990 · UK-wide Water Industry Act 1991 Primary 1991 · UK-wide Environmental Protection Act 1990 Primary 1990 · UK-wide Food Information Regulations 2014 SI 2014 · UK-wide The Food (Promotion and Presentation) (Wales) Regulations 2025 Welsh SI 2025 · Wales Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 SI 2021 · England Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 SI 2016 · England & Wales Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2015 SI 2015 · UK-wide The Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013 SI 2013 · England Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 (Animal By-Products) EU Retained 2009 · UK-wide Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (Food hygiene) EU Retained 2004 · UK-wide

Browse UK legislation legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Animal by-products: categories, approval, hygiene and disposal (opens in a new tab)

DEFRA

Trade effluent consent in England and Wales (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)

Environment Agency

Fats (not for human consumption) - Import Information Notes (opens in a new tab)

DEFRA

Fish oil (not for human consumption) - Import Information Notes (opens in a new tab)

DEFRA

Pet food (opens in a new tab)

FSA

Pet food and feed for other animals - Import Information Notes (opens in a new tab)

DEFRA

Food and drink regulations and traceability

Front-of-pack and HFSS labelling

Food traceability and recall obligations

Alcohol duty compliance

Packaging regulations

Waste and environmental obligations

Animal by-products regulations

Key compliance actions

Legal basis

Official guidance

Related guides in Environmental Permits

Food traceability, withdrawal, and recall

Selling food online: labelling and safety requirements

Food Information Regulations 2014 compliance

Allergen control systems and Natasha's Law

Food Safety for Childcare Providers