Out of home sector - mandatory calorie labelling: consultation

2. Purpose of consultation

2.1 We are consulting to inform Scottish Government policy, impact assessments and consideration of legislation. This will help us assess whether the proposed measures are proportionate and would deliver beneficial outcomes. Information on the Scottish Government consultation process and how to respond to this consultation is set out in Annex A. We are consulting on:

1. whether the provision of calorie information in OOH settings at the point of choice should be mandatory

And if so:

2. the manner in which calorie information would be presented so that it is easily and equitably accessible and understood

3. the advice and guidance that OOH businesses may require to ensure that there is parity in provision of calorie information across the sector

4. identifying any unintended consequences and impact on health and other inequalities that may arise from mandating calorie information at the point of choice in OOH settings and measures potentially required to mitigate the unintended consequences and impacts

5. whether there should be any exemptions to the application of requirements for the provision of calorie information in OOH settings.

2.2 The intended impact of the policy is to:

• provide calorie information for consumers at the point of choice
• facilitate informed choices
• reduce overall calories purchased and consumed OOH at a Scotland population level
• support businesses to reformulate their offerings to healthier options
• improve our ability to monitor population diet.

2.3 We will consider the Scottish Ministers' options to proceed to implement proposals once we have received responses to this consultation. Primary legislation may be required to allow Scottish Ministers to make regulations to introduce mandatory calorie labelling in OOH. This consultation will inform whether and on what basis the Scottish Government will proceed with mandatory calorie labelling and we will keep the position under review as the policy develops. We anticipate that a further consultation may likely be required to inform any regulations for implementing mandatory calorie labelling in OOH, as well as the scope of the requirements and any exemptions.