Trade association Scottish Bakers has lent its weight to criticism of the Scottish Government’s proposals to restrict the promotion of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS).
The consultation seeks to introduce distinct trading regulations for businesses that sell goods in Scottish stores that differ from rules already in force in other parts of the UK.
Unlike the rest of the UK, the Scottish Government plans to introduce restrictions on temporary price reductions, meal deals, freestanding display units and free refills of sugar-sweetened drinks. This, Scottish Bakers said, will make it more complex for Scottish-based businesses to compete on a level playing field.
Scottish Bakers chief executive Lesley Cameron commented: “The plans are poised to significantly affect small-scale Scottish food and beverage producers, intensifying the complexity and financial burden associated with selling bakery products in Scotland.
“Scottish Bakers is committed to actively influencing these regulations during the consultation process, advocating for considerations of their impact on our members.”
Cameron also highlighted the role of the Scottish food & drink industry’s Reformulation for Health initiative. Run by FDF Scotland with Scottish Government funding, the initiative helps producers enhance the health profile of their products. The fourth round of funding through its Reformul8 Challenge recently saw 14 producers receive up to £5,000 each to make their recipes healthier.
Her comments follow similar concerns raised by Food and Drink Federation Scotland, whose chief executive David Thomson said the consultation creates a different set of trading regulations for businesses selling into the Scottish stores compared to that in other parts of the UK.
Thomson also said the proposals will disproportionately impact small Scottish food and drink producers and will make selling food in Scotland more complex and costly for everyone.
