When Do the HFSS Rules Start in Scotland?
The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 come into force on 1 October 2026. This page explains what that date means within the wider Scottish HFSS framework.
1 October 2026
The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 come into force on 1 October 2026. From that date, the promotion and placement restrictions established by the Scottish HFSS regulatory framework apply to businesses and premises that meet the statutory criteria.
The Regulations were made in 2025. The commencement date of 1 October 2026 gives businesses within scope time to understand the framework before the restrictions take effect.
What applies from 1 October 2026
From the commencement date, the statutory restrictions on volume-linked price promotions and on the placement of relevant food in defined retail areas apply within qualifying premises. The Regulations do not phase in gradually — they apply from the commencement date as a whole.
The framework is Scotland-specific. It operates under its own Scottish Statutory Instrument and is separate from any equivalent measures that have been or may be introduced in other UK jurisdictions.
Not all businesses are affected from day one
Application depends on whether the business meets the statutory criteria set out in the Regulations, including the employee threshold. Businesses that do not meet those criteria are not within scope of the restrictions, regardless of the commencement date.
The question of whether a business falls within scope is addressed separately in the HFSS scope and application page. This page does not determine whether any specific business is within scope. Application depends on the statutory criteria.
The wider framework
The commencement date establishes when the Regulations take legal effect. Understanding what the Regulations require — including which products are relevant food, which promotions are restricted, and which retail areas are addressed — requires engagement with the substance of the framework rather than the date alone.
The Regulations overview page explains the structure of the framework. The HFSS hub brings together supporting explainers across scope, promotion, placement, and enforcement.
Related HFSS resources
HFSS Scotland
An overview of the Scottish HFSS promotion and placement framework with links to supporting explainers.
View HFSS hubThe Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025
A plain-English overview of the structure and purpose of the Scottish HFSS statutory framework.
Read moreDo the HFSS Rules Apply in Scotland?
Scope and application under the Scottish HFSS framework, including the employee threshold.
Read moreHFSS Promotion Restrictions in Scotland
How the promotion restrictions are structured and what they address in general terms.
Read moreHFSS Regulations
Focused legislative commentary on the full HFSS promotion and placement framework in Scotland.
View publicationFrequently asked questions
When do the Scottish HFSS rules come into force?
The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 come into force on 1 October 2026.
Are the Scottish rules separate from those in England?
Yes. The Scottish HFSS framework operates under its own Scottish Statutory Instrument and applies within Scotland only. Other UK jurisdictions have separate legislative arrangements.
Does this page replace legislation or legal advice?
No. This is a publisher-produced explanatory page. It does not constitute legal advice. Responsibility for compliance remains with the Food Business Operator.