May has brought renewed focus on the future direction of EU-UK regulatory relations, following the UK government’s plan to introduce a European Partnership Bill designed to fast-track closer alignment with selected EU rules.
For businesses, the proposal could help reduce friction and ease cross-border trade. However, questions remain over parliamentary scrutiny and the longer-term implications such a mechanism could have for the UK’s regulatory autonomy.
Alongside this, debate over the future direction of the European Biotech Act continues to intensify. A leaked working position from the Socialist & Democrats group in the European Parliament signalled support for the inclusion of novel foods within the Act’s proposed regulatory sandboxes, while reinforcing calls for decisions on novel food safety and assessment to remain science-based and within EFSA’s remit.
At the same time, the European Commission has published its long-awaited simplification measures for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), providing greater clarity on due diligence obligations, product scope, and implementation procedures for micro and small primary operators.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) also remain firmly on the political radar. Responding to a written parliamentary question, the Commission outlined the scientific process behind its upcoming study into the health impacts of UPF consumption, signalling a cautious and evidence-led approach to what remains a highly contentious debate.
Meanwhile, early resistance is building within the European Parliament against the Commission’s proposal to simplify the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules, with some lawmakers warning that reducing national enforcement mechanisms could make compliance monitoring more difficult across Member States.
From UK-EU alignment and biotechnology policy to deforestation rules and UPFs, this edition breaks down the key policy and regulatory developments food and nutrition businesses should be watching across the European market.
The Whitehouse Food & Nutrition Team
Policy and regulatory developments
S&D group to push for inclusion of novel food in European Biotech Act
According to a leaked document obtained by a journalist this month, the Socialist & Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament have shown support for novel foods in their working position on the forthcoming European Biotech Act. This follows the European Commission specifically excluding them from their proposal in the Act for new regulatory sandboxes, citing “ethical or cultural” considerations. The Act was proposed by the European Commission to strengthen the EU’s biotechnology sector, however, many were disappointed that it has not provided more support for the novel foods.
The S&D paper argues that decisions relating to the safety and assessment of novel foods should remain science-based and within the remit of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), rather than being shaped by political or ideological considerations. This aligns with broader calls from across the food industry, most recently from a coalition of over twenty companies and organisations. They warned that excluding novel foods from regulatory sandboxes could drive innovation towards faster approval systems in other markets.
The debate around the European Biotech Act is expected to intensify in the coming months as political groups, industry stakeholders and the Commission continue discussions on the scope and priorities of the legislation.
Commission publishes simplification review of EU Deforestation Regulation
On 4th May, the European Commission published its long-awaited report on the simplification of the revised EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and a set of further measures to support effective implementation. The report was announced in December last year as part of the European Commission’s simplification drive.
Despite intense lobbying from certain industry groups and countries such as the USA, the package does not change the law’s core legal text or the list classifying countries by risk of deforestation. There had been calls for a new ‘negligible risk’ category to be introduced, alongside the existing ‘low’, medium’ and ‘high risk’ categories, which would cut regulatory requirements for products from these countries even further. However, ultimately the European Commission has maintained its original country categorisation, suggesting that while it is keen to simplify the legislation, it remains committed to ensuring that the Regulation addresses what it set out to do: tackle deforestation and ensure that products put on the EU market are not contributing to the issue.
The new measures include an updated guidance document, Frequently Asked Questions, a draft delegated act on the product scope of the legislation, and updated EUDR supply chain infographics.
Commission outlines scientific process for upcoming UPFs study
On 12th May, the European Commission responded to a written parliamentary question on its planned study examining the health impacts of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption. The response sets out how the work will be structured and who will lead it.
The Commission clarified in its response that the study will be developed through the Scientific Advice Mechanism, drawing on the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA) and the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE). Supporting evidence reviews will be carried out through two Horizon Europe-funded bodies: SAPEA and SAEGE, both of which provide independent scientific assessments.
The Commission confirmed that the advisory process typically runs for around one year from the point a formal request for advice is received. It will involve literature reviews, expert hearings and workshops, with draft outputs subject to peer review and scientific scrutiny.
The update signals that the Commission is proceeding carefully and methodically on UPFs, a topic that has gained significant political traction. For the food industry, the timeline and process are worth watching closely. Meanwhile, the International Codex Committee on Food Labelling agreed not to include UPFs on its agenda for discussion yet, due to the lack of a clear scientific consensus on their definition.
Draft opinion calls to reject Commission’s proposal on simplifying extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes
This month, lawmakers in the European Parliament are signalling early resistance over a Commission proposal to remove the requirement for companies to appoint an authorised representative in each Member State under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules.
Klára Dostálová, rapporteur for the Internal Market Committee (IMCO) and an MEP from the Patriots for Europe group, has recommended that MEPs reject the simplification measure included in the Environmental Omnibus Package. In her draft opinion, she argues that the authorised representative requirement is not merely an administrative formality, but an important enforcement mechanism for national authorities overseeing EPR obligations. Without a designated national contact point, she warns, monitoring producer compliance could become significantly more difficult.
The position may also reflect broader political resistance to measures perceived as reducing Member State oversight, aligning with the Patriots for Europe group’s emphasis on national sovereignty.
While political groups have not yet consolidated their positions, parliamentary sources suggest the Commission’s proposal has yet to gain significant momentum. Some MEPs are reportedly considering postponing substantive debate until the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, which is expected to introduce wider reforms to EPR rules. Others have questioned whether the current proposal is sufficiently developed to advance at this stage.
Food for thought
The UK government has announced plans for a new European Partnership Bill that would allow ministers to fast-track selected EU legislation into UK law a significant step in the government’s broader post-Brexit “reset” with Brussels and one that could reshape the future of UK regulatory autonomy.
The proposed legislation was announced on 13th May as part of the King’s Speech and is expected to support several key UK-EU agreements currently under negotiation, including a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement covering agrifood trade. The Bill forms part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ wider strategy to deepen cooperation with the EU and reduce trade friction for businesses.
Crucially, the Bill would establish a mechanism allowing ministers to align UK rules with evolving EU legislation without requiring new primary legislation each time changes are introduced in Brussels. While the government has stated that Parliament would have “a say” before new EU rules are applied domestically, details of the scrutiny process remain limited. Early reporting suggests that much of the implementation could take place through secondary legislation, which traditionally receives less parliamentary debate and oversight.
The announcement comes amid growing discussion over the practical implications of regulatory alignment for innovation-focused sectors, including novel foods and sustainable food technologies. During a recent House of Lords debate on the SPS negotiations, peers raised concerns regarding how future alignment with EU rules could affect the UK’s ability to regulate emerging technologies independently. Questions were also raised regarding whether areas such as novel foods and new genomic techniques (NGTs) may ultimately require sector-specific carve-outs or exceptions under any final SPS framework.
Further reports on 23rd May suggest the UK had explored the possibility of a broader UK-EU single market for goods as part of the next phase of its Brexit reset agenda. While the proposal has reportedly not progressed, it reflects growing ambition within government for closer economic integration with the EU beyond the proposed SPS negotiations.
While the proposed Bill could help reduce friction for agrifood businesses trading between the UK and EU by simplifying regulatory requirements and easing cross-border trade, the Bill also raises important questions around parliamentary scrutiny and the future direction of UK policymaking. In particular, stakeholders are closely watching how closer alignment with evolving EU rules may affect the UK’s ability to become a favourable regulatory environment in comparison to the EU in emerging areas such as novel foods, and wider food innovation.
Shaping the future of sustainable food systems
This month’s top industry initiatives selected by the Whitehouse team:
- The Chancery Lane Project and WRAP target supply chain food waste: On 12th May, The Chancery Lane Project (TCLP) and WRAP launched an updated version of “Runa’s Clause”, a contractual clause designed to help food businesses reduce supply chain food waste and lower operational costs. The clause supports businesses in measuring and reporting food waste reduction efforts, while aligning with initiatives including WRAP’s Food Waste Reduction Roadmap.
- Tate & Lyle expands plant-based sweetener partnership with BioHarvest Sciences: On 18th May, Tate & Lyle announced an expansion of its collaboration with BioHarvest Sciences to accelerate the development of next-generation plant-based sweeteners for the food and beverage sector. The expanded partnership will focus on multiple sweetener molecules designed to help manufacturers address growing demand for sugar reduction while balancing taste, cost and labelling requirements. The collaboration also supports wider industry efforts to develop plant-based and lower-calorie sweetening alternatives as consumer demand for reduced sugar products continues to grow.
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 consultation on the proposal to amend and simplify the rules and make technical fixes to Annex I of EUDR. The deadline is 1st June.
- European Commission call for evidence on the EU Biotech Act II. The deadline is 10th June.
- European Commission consultation on the food and feed safety – simplification omnibus commission adoption. The feedback period closes on 12th June.
- DHSC consultation to help children to enjoy healthier diets: applying the new NPM to advertising and promotions restrictions. The deadline is 20th June.
Events calendar
- 7th-9th June: Terra Madre Europe, Slow Food, Brussels, multiple locations.
- 10th June: Feeding the future with fibre, FoodNavigator, Webinar (Online).
- 10th June: Building healthier food environments in cities. Cities for Better Health, Webinar (Online).
- 11th June: European Biotech Forum, The Parliament Magazine, Brussels.
- 11th June: Report launch event: A net-zero pathway for the EU food & drink sector by 2050. FoodDrink Europe, Brussels.
- 16th June: Healthy & sustainable diets: evidence-based reporting for journalists & science communicators, EUFIC, Online.
- 18th-19th June: 5th international conference Fat & Oil Industry 2026. Part 1. Fat & Oil Industry 2026 European edition: Trade and technologies amid global competition for the UK market, APK-Inform, Bulgaria.
Get in touch: Zoé Choulika, Account Manager, Food, Public Health and Sustainability zoe.choulika@whitehousecomms.com