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Food and agribusiness blog

Our food and agribusiness law blog offers you regular updates on the latest legal and policy decisions affecting the food and agribusiness industry.

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314 items

16 Dec 2024

3 mins

UK Deposit Return Scheme regulations published - Wales excluded

The UK Government has released draft legislation for a new Deposit Return Scheme (‘DRS’) for drinks containers in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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19 Nov 2024

2 mins

New guidance seeks to pin down the meaning of “regenerative farming”

Regenerative farming has become the next big thing in farming and claims to produce food using regenerative farming have started making their way into advertising.

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15 Nov 2024

3 mins

Balancing green: battery storage and preserving the Green Belt

Could a decision to approve a battery storage site on the Green Belt signal a trend towards prioritisation of green energy strategy over and above the protection of the Green Belt?

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04 Nov 2024

2 mins

The future of food and feed: Navigating the regulatory landscape for novel foods and alternative proteins

Katrina Anderson and Jessica Burt discuss the world of novel foods, cultured meats, and alternative proteins, with a particular focus on the recent approval for cultured meat animal feed.

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12 Sep 2024

2 mins

AHA succession – the rules have changed, are you affected?

Effective from 1 September 2024, small but significant changes to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (“AHA”) came into force, as mandated by the Agriculture Act 2020. The changes relate to succession rules, where an existing tenant of an AHA tenancy is looking to retire or has died.

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30 Aug 2024

4 mins

Salmon industry caught up in tidal wave of legal issues

Dr Sara Warner summarises the salmon producers cartel litigation in the UK and greenwashing claims.

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27 Aug 2024

5 mins

Health & safety is a matter of life or death in agriculture

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) has published its work-related fatality figures for 2023/24 which reveal agriculture to have the poorest safety record of any occupation in the country.

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26 Aug 2024

4 mins

Food fraud: Are you properly protected?

Food fraud can decimate brand reputation and businesses - Jessica Burt goes through the key 5 recommendations on how best to protect your business.

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26 Aug 2024

12 mins

Food & Agri Update - 26 August

Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) summer updates on infant formula, loyalty cards and consultation for guidance on trader recommendation platforms. Defra considers Extended Producer Responsibility figures and date of Deposit Return Scheme. Environmental matters focus on clean waters. FSA and school food study, caged eggs update, EU looks at quality schemes and food fraud with olive oil seizures. Finally, enforcement round-up.

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23 Aug 2024

2 mins

What constitutes reasonable steps for age-targeting in HFSS adverts?

The ASA has upheld a complaint that a Facebook ad for Just Eat failed to use appropriate targeting to ensure an online facebook ad featuring  foods that were high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) was not directed at under 16s.

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23 Aug 2024

1 min

When is #ad not sufficient to provide all relevant information of a commercial transaction?

The ASA controversially ruled last week in two matters concerning nutrition brands, finding that the failure to disclose the commercial relationship with Dragons’ Den star Steve Bartlett was misleading to consumers. 

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20 Aug 2024

2 mins

Agricultural Tenancies: developing your options

In light of the government placing housebuilding and renewable energy at the top of its agenda, Nichola Ross, a Principal Associate in the Agri-Business Real Estate team, talks to James Hordern, a Special Counsel in our Real Estate Disputes team, to consider how easy it is for landowners with tenancies to provide vacant possession.

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07 Aug 2024

2 mins

HMAs and HMMPs… Huh..?

The impact a development site has on surrounding biodiversity is an importance issue for any developer. Lizzie Egan, an Associate in the Agriculture team, discusses the key requirements of habitat management agreements and habitat management and monitoring plans.

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26 Jul 2024

2 mins

The 25% Solution: Defra’s Approach to Harmonizing Agriculture and Environment

Defra have recently implemented restrictions on the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme after concerns that too much land would be diverted away from food production. Joseph Notice, an Associate in the Agriculture team, discusses the recent changes and highlights the challenges faced in striking the perfect balance between environmental sustainability and food security.

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25 Jul 2024

9 mins

Are you Stressed? Food Supplements under ASA Spotlight for Claims around Mental Cognitive State, ADHD & advertising novel foods which are not authorised for sale in the UK

In a series of rulings all published together ASA has underlined the importance of food supplements not making unauthorised health claims or medical claims to prevent, treat or cure disease or implied claims relating to anxiety, stress, fatigue, energy, focus, memory, sleep and more general ‘wellness’ claims.

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12 Jul 2024

2 mins

Wine Reforms Continue

The second phase of the wine reforms, The Wine (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk) /115 come into force on 15 July 2024.

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09 Jul 2024

7 mins

Labour sets out its 5 Priorities for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

New secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs, Steve Reed, has unveiled 5 core priorities. Jessica Burt examines these for the food and agri sector. What will the new Labour government mean for you and your business?

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05 Jul 2024

1 min

ASA cracks down on ads claiming to treat menopause symptoms

The ASA has used AI to identify two companies breaching the CAP Code with ads promoting alleged treatments for the symptoms of the menopause.

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