April has brought renewed focus on the future of EU–UK relations, as the UK government set out plans to introduce legislation enabling future dynamic alignment with EU Single Market rules.
For businesses, this signals a faster route to reduced border friction and closer trade ties. However, questions remain over the impact of such a measure on the UK’s industry ability to influence future food standards applied in the UK. This comes alongside ministers’ firm resistance to a longer SPS transition period, despite industry concerns over implementation timelines.
In Brussels, the European Commission has published guidance on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, providing greater clarity on producer responsibilities, material restrictions and reuse requirements.
Biotechnology policy is moving up the agenda. Industry groups are urging co-legislators to amend the proposed EU Biotech Act to include novel foods within regulatory sandboxes, warning that their exclusion risks limiting innovation. In parallel, a broader coalition is calling for a more ambitious framework to address persistent gaps in scaling biomanufacturing across Europe.
Scrutiny over the EU’s animal welfare agenda is also intensifying. While progress has been made on companion animal rules, broader reforms remain outstanding, prompting criticism from both civil society and policymakers. Questions have been raised about the pace of delivery and the Commission’s ability to meet previously stated commitments.
Meanwhile, in UK research highlights continued consumer uncertainty around ultra-processed foods, particularly for children, reinforcing the likelihood of ongoing policy attention.
From UK–EU alignment and packaging rules to biotech policy and animal welfare, this edition breaks down what food and nutrition businesses need to watch across the European market.
The Whitehouse Food & Nutrition Team
Policy and regulatory developments
Starmer's EU Alignment Bill raises questions over parliamentary scrutiny
On 13th April, the government announced plans to introduce legislation enabling dynamic alignment with EU single market rules – covering food standards – via secondary legislation, bypassing Parliament's ability to amend or block new measures. For the agri-food and food manufacturing sectors, the legislation is presented as the fastest plausible route to reduced EU border friction, and the government argues it could unlock a potential £5.1 billion annual food and drink trade deal.
However, the legislation would also remove a core route for the industry to raise concerns and influence future EU legislation which may also be transposed into UK law. The bill is expected later in 2026. Meanwhile, ongoing negotiations on the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) negotiations have been reported to be going as planned with a potential agreement to be concluded this summer.
Separately, ministers rejected the EFRA Committee's recommendation for a 24-month business transition period ahead of the SPS agreement's expected mid-2027 implementation- a decision the NFU warned would leave farmers facing an "impractical deadline" with rising production costs.
Commission publishes packaging guidance
On 30th March, the European Commission published guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which aims to create a more sustainable and competitive packaging sector across the EU.
The guidance clarifies when a company is considered a manufacturer or producer, as well as which items are considered packaging under the PPWR. It also clarifies the restrictions on single-use packaging, enforcement of the PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) restriction in food contact packaging, and the application of re-use targets. It also provides guidance on how to apply extended producer responsibility for packaging and the obligation to set up deposit and return schemes.
Additionally, the Commission has published Frequently Asked Questions addressing various practical issues raised by stakeholders, which will be updated as needed. The Commission notes that several delegated and implementing acts are being prepared, including on harmonised registration and reporting formats for the extended producer responsibility, labelling for waste sorting by consumers, recycled content in plastic packaging, and recyclability criteria. The guidance was praised by Packaging Europe for bringing much needed clarity on rules.
Industry organisations push for greater ambition in EU biotech and biomanufacturing policy
Amid ongoing discussions on the EU Biotech Act I, industry organisations are calling for greater ambition to strengthen Europe’s biotechnology and biomanufacturing ecosystem. While the first Biotech Act focuses primarily on health, the Commission has committed to a Biotech Act II in Q3 2026 to address the wider biotech sector.
In an open letter, several food and biotechnology associations welcomed the introduction of regulatory sandboxes under the Biotech Act I but urged co-legislators to amend the proposal to allow novel foods to be included, arguing that their exclusion risks undermining innovation. The proposal put forward by the Commission specifically excludes novel foods, citing ethical and cultural concerns.
In a separate letter, a broad coalition of industry groups called on the European Commission to use the forthcoming Biotech Act II to establish a dedicated EU strategy to scale up biomanufacturing, highlighting persistent barriers in moving from innovation to industrial production. They urged policymakers to deliver an ambitious framework capable of reducing regulatory fragmentation, attracting private investment and strengthening Europe’s global competitiveness.
The Biotech Acts will be central to shaping the biomanufacturing sector in the years ahead, making this a key moment for stakeholders to engage and help shape the policy framework.
UKRI finds families ‘left in the dark’ on ultra-processed food risks to children
On 16th April, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published findings from a year-long public dialogue exploring how people perceive the health impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Participants expressed widespread concern about potential effects on pregnancy, child development, mental health, obesity, and long-term health, but highlighted a lack of clear, accessible scientific evidence.
This uncertainty has left many families unsure about the risks of diets increasingly dominated by UPFs. The dialogue, involving 132 members of the public, revealed alarm at the high proportion of UPFs in UK diets, particularly among children and adolescents, and unease about additives and food marketing practices. Participants also stressed that structural factors such as affordability and availability, rather than personal choice alone, shape dietary habits. Many called for urgent research to establish clearer definitions and evidence, particularly around the NOVA classification system. The report signalled the effectiveness of anti-UPFs narratives in shaping consumers' minds as well as driving alarm.
Food for thought
Time for a performance review: how is the EU’s first ever animal welfare commissioner doing?
The creation of the European Union’s first Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare in 2024 was widely seen as a symbolic milestone. With Hungarian politician Olivér Várhelyi appointed to the role until 2029, many organisations viewed this as a sign that animal welfare would finally gain sustained political attention at EU level. One year in, the question is whether this new portfolio is delivering on that promise.
So far, progress has been limited. Despite strong public mobilisation on broader animal welfare reform, including the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘End the Cage Age’, which was supported by 1.4 million citizens, the Commission has not followed through with the legislative action it previously promised. The initiative called for a phase out of cages in animal farming, with a commitment from the Commission to bring forward a legislative proposal by the end of 2023. As NGO Animal Equality recently highlighted in a protest at the European institutions in Brussels, such a proposal has still not been published, raising concerns that animal welfare policy has been deprioritised.
These concerns have been further amplified this month by a cross-party group of MEPs who wrote to Commissioner Várhelyi expressing concern that the Commission is not fulfilling its obligations on animal welfare, which are enshrined in European law. The MEPs accuse the Commission of moving too slowly on several contentious issues, including failing to enforce a ban on routine tail docking in pigs, allowing the continued export of live animals to countries with lower welfare standards and permitting the use of carbon dioxide stunning for pigs.
These developments raise questions about the democratic accountability of the European Commission. With European citizens increasingly expecting higher animal welfare standards, if their calls continue to be ignored, trust in the EU institutions may be undermined.
While Commissioner Várhelyi’s mandate still has several years to run, early assessments suggest a cautious start. Whether the coming years bring more decisive action will shape not only the future of EU animal welfare policy but also public confidence in the Commission’s willingness to act on it.
Vivien Keenleyside, Consultant Vivien.keenleyside@whitehousecomms.com
Shaping the future of sustainable food systems
This month’s top industry initiatives selected by the Whitehouse team:
- Mars, Incorporated steps up push for net zero cocoa: On 16th April, Mars announced plans to accelerate its transition to net zero cocoa, as part of its wider commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The company is increasing investment in regenerative agriculture, aiming to transform cocoa production by improving soil health, reducing emissions, and supporting farmer livelihoods. The initiative includes working directly with farmers to adopt climate-smart techniques, such as agroforestry and reduced fertiliser use, while also addressing deforestation risks.
- Lidl GB joins UN Global Compact initiative to strengthen sustainability efforts: Lidl GB has become the first UK discounter to join the United Nations Global Compact, aligning its governance, operations and reporting with ten global principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The move supports progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and enables collaboration with thousands of companies worldwide to advance responsible business practices. Through the initiative, Lidl GB aims to strengthen supply chain resilience, reduce waste and drive sustainability improvements across its operations.
Think that your sustainable initiative deserves a shout out? Please contact: eden.reyhanian@whitehousecomms.com
Engagement opportunities
Open consultations
Engage with these consultations to shape the issues affecting your organisation:
- European Commission call for feedback on the draft act on changes to conformity checks for olive oil marketing standards. The feedback period closes on 21st May.
- European Commission call for feedback on the food and feed safety – simplification omnibus commission adoption. The feedback period closes on 25th May.
Events calendar
- 5th May: EURACTIV: Health Policy Conference (Brussels)
- 7th May: FoodNavigator: Healthy ageing – nutrition for longevity and vitality (Online)
- 13th May: Food Manufacture: Are you ready for the healthy consumer? (Online)
- 28th May: POLITICO: Pro Roundtable – Sustainability (Brussels)
- 10th June: FoodNavigator: Feeding the future with fibre (Online)
- 25th June: POLITICO: Pro Roundtable – Health (Brussels)