Our contents this week:
Retail, Food & Hospitality updates
Home Office give green light to digital age verification of alcohol sales: The Data (Use and Access) Bill recently introduced to Parliament contains measures to ensure that the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework is placed on a statutory footing. When the Bill achieves Royal Assent, the Government has announced its intention to bring forward a statutory instrument to add digital identities - which appear on a public register on GOV.UK of services which have been independently certified against the trust framework - as acceptable proof of age in the sale of alcohol alongside traditional identification documents with a holographic mark or ultraviolet feature. This means that in any circumstance where a person may currently be required to provide a suitable physical form of ID for age verification purposes for the sale of alcohol, they will also be permitted to provide a digital identity, certified against the trust framework, to prove their age. Prior to introducing this change, the Home Office is to do further work to understand any other requirements that may be necessary to allow digital identities to be used for the sale of alcohol, including addressing concerns raised within the consultation.Consultation > News >
‘Oatly AB’ seek leave to take ‘Post Milk Generation’ trademark case to Supreme Court: Dairy UK challenged the legitimacy of the Oatly AB ‘Post Milk Generation’ trademark, and the Court of Appeal recently ruled against its use for the oat-based drink. Oatly AB have now sought leave to challenge that ruling in the Supreme court. Supreme Court >Video footage >
EU updates
EU Council: Publish information on Polish presidency: Polish Presidency > Press release >
EU Regulations:
- Banning use of Bisphenol A in all food contact materials, which has various transitional periods: View >
European Food safety Authority opinions:
EFSA are publicly consulting on our draft assessment of the potential risks from ingestion of fluoride from drinking water, the diet, fluoridated table salt and (ingested) fluoridated dental care products.The draft proposes a safe level of intake of 3.3 mg/day for pregnant women which applies to all age groups from 9 years of age and above. This figure is derived from potential effects on the developing central nervous system of the foetus. EFSA experts provisionally concluded that these effects start to occur at or above drinking water levels of 1.5 milligrams per litre (mg/L), the legal limit in the European Union. The concentrations found in drinking water in European countries are usually less than 0.3 mg/L. The opinion also proposes tolerable upper intake levels for infants and young children: 1 milligram per day (mg/day) for infants 0-12 months of age, 1.6 mg/day for children 1-3 years of age, and 2 mg/day for children 4-8 years of age. These upper levels are linked to the risk of dental fluorosis (tooth discoloration) and are protective of all other potential adverse effects for these age groups. Responses required by 9th February. View >
Developments to watch
DEFRA: Publish update on ongoing Avian flu outbreak and rules regarding poultry meat produced in disease control zones. View > View >
DEFRA: Publish policy statement on implementing neonicotinoid pesticide ban. View > View >
US Food and Drugs Administration: Propose standardised test requirement for absence of asbestos in talc. View >
Scottish Government: To support 24 local climate change action hubs across Scotland. View >
Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs: Publish annual report for 2020-2022. View >
Government Chemist: Publish webinar on sampling approaches adopted by the Food Standards Agency. View >
For your information
Non-food product safety alerts: Office for Product Safety and Standards >EU Safety gate > US Consumer Product Safety Commission >
Cabinet Office: Publish New Years honours list 2025.View >
Cabinet Office: Announce appointment of Dame Louise Casey as Government lead non-executive Director. View >
Health and Safety Executive: To celebrate having been established for 50 years.View >
HM Treasury: Name Ric Lewis as preferred candidate for Chair of the Crown Estate. View >
