New rules about how and where foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) can be promoted and displayed in larger shops and online have been passed by the Welsh Government.
The Food (Promotion and Presentation) (Wales) Regulations 2025, which mirror rules already in place in England, will:
- Restrict promotions that can encourage over-consumption, such as multi-buy offers and free refills of sugary drinks
- Restrict the presentation of foods high in fat, sugar and salt products at prime selling locations such as store entrances, checkouts and website homepages.
- Apply to medium and large businesses with 50 or more employees
The Senedd highlighted that 83% of purchases made on promotions are impulse buys, and almost half (43%) of food and drink products in prominent store locations promote sugary food and drinks.
Public Health England indicated that the following products would be included in the programme:
- Bread with additions (e.g. olives, cheese, etc)
- Crisps and savoury snacks
- Savoury biscuits, crackers and crispbreads
- Potato products (e.g. chips, croquettes, mashed potato, etc)
- Sausages (raw and cooked) and sausage meat products, frankfurters, hotdogs and burgers
- Meat, fish and vegetarian pastry pies and other pastry products
- Cooking sauces and pastes
- Table sauces and dressings
- Pasta/rice/noodles with added ingredients and flavours
- Ready meals with carbohydrate accompaniment (potato, rice, noodles, pasta, etc) – fish, meat and meat alternatives
- Meal centres without carbohydrate accompaniment (potato, rice, noodles, pasta, etc) – fish, meat and meat alternatives
- Prepared dips and composite salads as meal accompaniments (e.g. coleslaw, potato salad, guacamole, salsa etc)
- Pizza
- Egg products/dishes (e.g. quiche)
- Food to go (e.g. sandwiches, boxed main meals etc)
Wales Health Secretary Jeremy Miles commented: “These regulations are a key part of our strategy to tackle Wales’ growing obesity problem.
“I’m pleased they have been approved by the Senedd, as they will have a significant impact on the health of our nation for years to come.
“We want to make it easier for people to make healthier choices and we’ll achieve this by improving the food environment around them. If we ensure healthier food and drinks are more available, accessible and visible to people in shops and stores, it will support our efforts to reduce obesity rates and improve public health.”
