BOOKER NEWS
NEW CALORIE LABELLING LAWS COME INTO FORCE IN APRIL A new law comes into force in April requiring businesses with 250 or more employees to display the calorie content of their food and drink.
INBRIEF
PERMANENT VAT CUT BENEFITS ‘UNDENIABLE Many of the UK's largest hospitality and tourism
From 6th April 2022, caterers will be required by
food is sold on a
bodies have joined
law to display the calorie content of their food.
website or mobile
forces to publish a study
Following a consultation in 2018, the Government
app, the business
demonstrating that the
is now requiring large food businesses with 250
responsible for that website or mobile app is
benefits of permanent
or more employees to comply with the new
required to display the calorie information of
VAT reduction are
legislation. The law affects the entire ‘out of
food offered for sale by any qualifying business.
"undeniable". The study
home’ food sector, covering all outlets where
states that a permanent
food or drink is prepared in a way that means it is
Caterers selling via third-party delivery websites
cut would save the
ready for immediate consumption, on or off the
or apps will be required to provide calorie
Government £4.6bn and
premises.
information to the website or app provider for all
create more than quarter
products listed for sale on the website or app.
of a million jobs over the next decade.
The regulations require calorie information to be displayed at the point where a customer chooses
For more information, visit www.gov.uk
The British Beer and
what food to purchase, such as on menus and on
Pub Association,
labels next to food on display.
UKHospitality, the
The Government says the new legislation is geared to making it easier for customers to make informed, healthier decisions when purchasing food out of the home but also to “encourage businesses to reformulate the food and drink they offer and provide lower calorie options” for their customers. Failure to comply with the Regulations may result in a food business being issued with an
NEW REQUIREMENTS: Under the new regulations, from the 6th of April, caterers must: l Clearly and legibly display the energy content of the food in kilocalories (kcal) l Reference the size of the portion to which the calorie information relates) l Display the statement that ‘adults need around 2,000 kcal a day’
Tourism Alliance and the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions commissioned the report which states that a permanent rate of 12.5% VAT would bring VAT on hospitality and attractions in line with the European average. The 20% rate is nearly double the
improvement notice while failure to comply with
European average.
an improvement notice could lead to a £2,500
A permanent cut would
fixed penalty being imposed.
create 286,850 jobs and generate £7.7bn of
The new rules will extend into the digital space
additional turnover over
and will cover food sold on a website or mobile
10 years, says the report.
app, including third party delivery apps. Where
APRIL 2022
Mar-Apr Issue 3.indd 9
9
31/03/2022 13:13:46
