SPRING 2023 ROUND-UP Food in the firing line Legislation introduced in October last year restricts the promotion and placement in retail stores and their online equivalents of specified foods and drinks that are high in fat, salt or sugar, or less healthy. ROUND-UP The changes apply to businesses known as qualifying businesses that employ more than 50 people and that have a floor area of more than 185.8m2 (2,000ft2). promotions such as buy one get one free, 50% off, and 6 for the price of 4. Restrictions will also apply to free-refills of sugar-sweetened beverages. Qualifying online marketplaces must not display or place offers for sale of less healthy foods on their homepage, pop-ups, or favourite product pages (recommendations). Volume promotions can also not be offered on the website. Placement Sales of less healthy foods must not be displayed at store entrances, close to or within two metres of the cashier (along the main customer route, including behind the cashier and at the end of an aisle). Further guidance including details of exempt foods and businesses, and prohibited distance calculations etc. can be found on the Gov.uk website. From 1 October 2023, it will be prohibited to sell less healthy foods and drinks via Credit: Sarah Noonan, Trading Standards officer Image: iStock.com / gorodenkoff Avian influenzas ongoing threat It continues to be the most challenging avian influenza season to date, particularly along the east coast of England. Britain is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) and, by law, bird keepers must follow strict biosecurity rules to prevent the spread of the disease. In England and Wales, the AIPZ also means you must house your birds to protect them from bird flu. All poultry gatherings, including fairs, shows and markets, remain banned because of the risk of infections spreading across the country. 038 268 (Wales). To report dead wild birds call 03459 33 55 77. You should use this service if you find: If you are in a specific bird flu disease control zone, where an infected premises has been identified, you must follow the rules in that zone and check if you need a licence to move poultry, poultry by-products, eggs, material or mammals. n One or more dead birds of prey (such as an owl, hawk or buzzard) n Three or more dead birds that include at least one gull, swan, goose or duck n Five or more dead wild birds of any species. If you suspect bird flu in poultry or other captive birds, you must report it immediately by calling 03000 200 301 (England) or 03003 If you have more than 50 birds, it is compulsory to register your flock with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, either online or by calling 03000 200 301 *The information in this article was correct at the time of digital publication. Visit the Gov.uk website for the latest updates. Marking time Manufacturers should already be making good progress towards using the new UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) safety mark on products for market in Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). ROUND-UP The UKCA was introduced after Brexit and applies to most products for which the CE mark could be used, as well as to aerosol products that previously required the reversed-epsilon mark. However, the government recognising the extra pressures that businesses are currently experiencing because of increased material and fuel costs has pushed back the deadline to stop using the CE and reversedepsilon marks to 31 December 2024. The technical requirements you must meet for the UKCA mark will depend on the specific legislation for your product. Detailed guidance on the measures you must take to demonstrate conformity can be found on the Gov.uk website. l If you manufacture or supply construction products for the GB market, the government has issued updated guidance on how to comply with the new rules, including how to get goods conformity assessed. To affix the UKCA mark, businesses must comply with all relevant requirements under the Construction Products Regulation 2011, as retained in UK law. For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service For up-to-date news stories and information, follow us on Until 30 June 2025, products can continue to be supplied to the GB market without any need for reassessment or re-marking if EU requirements are met (including CE marking). To affix a CE mark, third-party conformity assessment must continue to be carried out by an EU-recognised notified body during this time. Products that meet NI rules including CE marking or CE UK(NI) marking can be supplied to the GB market, but businesses should prepare for these provisions to end on 30 June 2025. Further details on using the UK marking can be found on Gov.uk. Credit: Sarah Noonan, Trading Standards officer Anonymous Hotline 0300 303 2636 Is your sector being undermined by unscrupulous traders operating outside the law? Report them via Trading Standards Anonymous Hotline or online and help level the playing field for honest businesses.