HFSS Key Terms – Scotland
A reference guide to the core terms used in the Scottish HFSS promotion and placement framework. Terms are explained as they arise within The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025.
How to use this reference
The definitions on this page are explanatory, not statutory. They explain how terms are used and what they refer to within the Scottish HFSS promotion and placement framework. The authoritative source for each term is the statutory wording of The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025.
Where a term is addressed in more detail by a supporting explainer page, a link is provided. For full legislative commentary, the HFSS Regulations publication addresses the framework in depth.
Scope and application
Employee threshold
The minimum number of employees a business must have for The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 to apply to it. Businesses below the threshold are generally outside the scope of the framework. The threshold is defined within the Regulations. See the scope and application page for further context.
Qualifying business / qualifying premises
A business and its premises that meet the statutory criteria for the Regulations to apply. Whether a business qualifies depends on the employee threshold and, for certain placement restrictions, floor area. Application depends on the statutory criteria.
Floor area threshold
A minimum floor area criterion that affects whether certain placement restrictions apply to smaller retail premises within an otherwise qualifying business. The floor area threshold is relevant to the placement restrictions but does not affect the overall application of the promotion restrictions in the same way.
Food classification
Relevant food
The statutory term for food that falls within the scope of the HFSS promotion and placement restrictions. A product is relevant food where it falls within a defined product category and meets the applicable nutrient profiling criteria. Not all food is relevant food. See the food classification page for further context.
HFSS (high in fat, sugar or salt)
The abbreviation used to describe food that is classified as relevant food under the Regulations. In common use, HFSS is often used informally to describe food considered unhealthy or high in certain nutrients. In the regulatory context, HFSS refers specifically to food that has been classified as relevant food through the statutory category and nutrient profiling process.
Nutrient profiling mechanism
The model used within the statutory framework to determine whether a product in an in-scope category qualifies as relevant food. The profiling mechanism assesses defined nutritional components against criteria set out in the Regulations. See the nutrient profiling page for further context.
Product category
The defined groupings of food products used by the Regulations to determine which foods are subject to the nutrient profiling process. A product must fall within an in-scope category before the profiling mechanism is applied. Certain categories are excluded from the framework entirely.
Promotion restrictions
Volume-based incentive
The statutory term for a promotional mechanism that creates a price advantage conditional on purchasing multiple units of a product. This is the category of promotion addressed by the promotion restrictions. Whether a specific offer constitutes a volume-based incentive depends on the statutory definition. See the promotion restrictions page for further context.
Multibuy promotion
A common term for a volume-based price offer, such as three for the price of two or similar structures. Multibuy promotions are among the types of volume-linked incentive addressed by the promotion restrictions where they apply to relevant food in qualifying premises. Classification depends on the statutory definition. See the multibuy and volume promotions page for further context.
Placement restrictions
Restricted area
A retail area in which the placement of relevant food is restricted by the Regulations. Restricted areas are defined within the statutory framework and include specified entrance areas, checkout areas, and other described display locations. Whether a particular area constitutes a restricted area depends on the statutory description. See the placement restrictions page for further context.
Checkout area
One of the defined categories of restricted area within the placement restrictions. What constitutes a checkout area is determined by the statutory description. Checkout areas are among the locations addressed by the placement restrictions for qualifying premises. See the checkout displays page for further context.
Entrance area
One of the defined categories of restricted area within the placement restrictions. What constitutes an entrance area is determined by the statutory description within the Regulations.
Enforcement
Local authority
The enforcement authority responsible for oversight of the Regulations in Scotland. Local authorities act through authorised officers to assess compliance with the promotion and placement restrictions. See the HFSS enforcement page for further context.
Commencement date
The date from which The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 take legal effect: 1 October 2026. From that date, the promotion and placement restrictions apply within qualifying premises. See the HFSS start date page for further context.
Related HFSS resources
HFSS Scotland
An overview of the Scottish HFSS promotion and placement framework with links to all supporting explainers.
View HFSS hubWhat Counts as HFSS Food in Scotland?
How the classification framework and product categories operate in the Scottish HFSS framework.
Read moreThe Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025
A plain-English overview of the statutory structure of the Scottish HFSS framework.
Read moreHFSS Regulations
Focused legislative commentary on the full HFSS promotion and placement framework in Scotland.
View publicationFrequently asked questions
Are these definitions legally binding?
No. The definitions on this page are explanatory. The authoritative definitions are in the statutory wording of The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025.
Is this page specific to Scotland?
Yes. The Scottish HFSS framework applies within Scotland only under The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025.
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.
The statutory context for these terms, and how they operate within the Scottish HFSS framework in practice, is examined in the HFSS Regulations publication.