Major new rules restricting how supermarkets and other retailers promote junk food will come into force across Scotland this Thursday.
From 1 October, shops will face new limits on where foods high in fat, sugar or salt can be displayed, while promotions including buy-one-get-one-free and other multibuy offers will also be restricted.
The changes mean shoppers could notice sweets, crisps, biscuits, cakes, sugary drinks and other products disappearing from checkouts, shop entrances and the ends of aisles.
The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 apply to businesses with 50 or more employees and will cover both physical shops and online shopping.
The regulations do not ban any food or drink from sale and do not mean retailers have to stop selling products considered less healthy.
Instead, they are designed to change the way selected products are promoted to shoppers.
Among the products potentially covered are sweets, biscuits, cakes, ice cream, savoury snacks, sugary soft drinks, breakfast cereals, sweetened dairy products and some pizzas, ready meals, chips and breaded foods.
Products are assessed using the UK Nutrient Profiling Model, meaning not every item within those categories will automatically be subject to the restrictions.
One of the biggest changes will affect supermarket promotions.
Retailers covered by the regulations will no longer be able to offer qualifying products through promotions such as “three for two”, “two for £10”, “buy one get one free” or offers giving customers an additional quantity of a product free.
The restriction applies both in shops and online.
Restaurants and other businesses covered by the rules will also be prevented from offering free refills of qualifying soft drinks containing added sugar.
Meal deals, however, will continue to be allowed.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that the regulations will not affect deals where products are sold together as a single meal, while promotions involving alcohol are also outside the scope of the new rules.
Larger stores will face additional restrictions on where qualifying food can be placed.
In shops with a floor area greater than 185.8 square metres – equivalent to 2,000 sq ft – affected products cannot be prominently displayed at entrances, checkouts or aisle ends.
Similar rules apply online, preventing retailers from giving qualifying products prominent positioning on areas including home pages, checkout pages and some pop-ups.
Smaller stores are exempt from the location restrictions, while specialist businesses such as chocolatiers, confectioners and cake shops are also exempt from those placement rules.
The restrictions mainly apply to prepacked products.
Foods prepared or packed in a shop, including some freshly made pizzas, sandwiches and loose bakery products, are generally outside the scope of the regulations.
The Scottish Government said the measures are intended to reduce impulse buying and make healthier options easier for shoppers to choose.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said the government wanted to make it “easier for people to live healthier lives”, pointing to high levels of overweight and obesity in Scotland.
She said prominent displays and promotions could encourage people to buy and consume more foods containing high levels of calories, fat, sugar and salt.
The Scottish Retail Consortium has backed the approach, although it estimates retailers will spend around £20 million implementing the changes.
Deputy head Ewan MacDonald-Russell said the regulations were “proportionate” and welcomed Scotland adopting a broadly consistent approach with other parts of the UK.
Similar restrictions are already operating in England and Wales.
Local authorities will be responsible for enforcing the Scottish regulations, with businesses that fail to comply potentially facing enforcement action.