Scottish food promotion rules to reshape retail spaces and curb unhealthy product marketing from October 2026

New Scottish regulations set to limit the promotion and placement of high-fat, sugar, or salt foods in larger stores, aiming to promote healthier consumer choices and reduce diet-related health issues from October 2026.

Scotland’s new rules on the promotion and placement of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt are due to take effect on 1 October 2026, with ministers saying the aim is to make healthier choices easier for shoppers. The measures, set out under the Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025, will restrict where certain products can be displayed in larger stores and will also limit some price promotions online and in shops.

According to the Scottish Government, the changes apply to prepacked items such as sweets, crisps, cakes and sugary soft drinks. In larger shops, these products will not be allowed in prominent spots such as entrances, checkouts and the ends of aisles. Some multi-buy offers, including “2 for” deals and buy-one-get-one-free promotions, will also be curtailed, while some businesses will no longer be able to offer free refills of sugary drinks.

The government has stressed that the regulations do not amount to a ban on any product. Shoppers will still be able to buy the same items, but they may be placed elsewhere in stores or presented differently online. Meal deals and alcohol promotions are excluded from the rules, and products made and packed in-store, along with loose goods such as pastries, are not covered.

Implementation guidance published alongside the regulations sets out which businesses are affected and how local authorities will enforce the rules. A separate assessment says the policy is intended to reduce diet-related harm, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and cardiovascular disease, while also helping to narrow health inequalities. Similar restrictions are already in force in England and Wales.