Policy paper

Annex B: Summary of existing or ongoing UK government policy across the outcomes

Published 15 July 2025

The tables below map existing government policy affecting the food system, organised by the outcomes set out in Towards a Good Food Cycle. The outcomes are not independent of each other, and there are many interdependencies, synergies and trade-offs between them. 

The geographic scope provides an indication of the geographic coverage of UK government policy areas:  

• ‘UK wide’ indicates a reserved policy area
• ‘UK wide (devolved but coordinated)’ indicates a devolved policy area where the four nations have taken a coordinated approach to implementing a policy across the UK
• ‘England’ or another named scope indicates a devolved policy area
• ‘Various’ indicates that the policy area may cover a range of specific policies with different geographic scope

Outcome 1: An improved food environment that supports healthier and more environmentally sustainable food sales 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
9pm watershed for less healthy food or drink advertising on TV	UK wide	Outcome 1
Restrictions on promotions of less healthy foods	England	Outcome 1
Food Data Transparency Partnership	Various	Outcome 1 Outcome 3  Outcome 5
Food labelling (BOP nutrition, FOP voluntary traffic light, calorie content, allergy)	Various	Outcome 1  Outcome 2  Outcome 3  Outcome 10
Eatwell Guide	UK wide (devolved but coordinated)	Outcome 1  Outcome 10
Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services	England	Outcome 1  Outcome 5
School Food Standards	England	Outcome 1  Outcome 2
Soft Drinks Industry Levy	UK wide	Outcome 1
Ban on under-16s purchasing high caffeinated energy drinks	England	Outcome 1
Voluntary sugar, salt and calorie reduction and reformulation	UK wide (devolved but coordinated)	Outcome 1
Local Authority powers to block new fast food outlets near schools	England	Outcome 1
Mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour	UK wide (devolved but coordinated)	Outcome 1
Circular Economy Strategy	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 10

Outcome 2: Access for all to safe, affordable, healthy, convenient and appealing food options 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
Healthy Start	England, Wales, NI	Outcome 1 Outcome 2
School Milk Subsidy	England, Wales	Outcome 2
Nursery Milk Scheme	England, Wales, NI	Outcome 2
School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme	England	Outcome 2
Universal Infant Free School Meals	England	Outcome 2
Free School Meals	England	Outcome 2
Holiday Activities and Food Programme	England	Outcome 2
National School Breakfast Programme and Free Breakfast Club Scheme	England	Outcome 2
Household Support Fund	England	Outcome 2
More accessible allergen information to assist those with food hypersensitivities	England, Wales, NI	Outcome 2
Mandatory healthy sales reporting	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 2
Targets to increase the healthiness of sales	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 2

Outcome 3: Conditions for the food sector to thrive and grow sustainably, including investment in innovation, and productivity, and fairer, more transparent supply chains 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
Food Data Transparency Partnership	Various	Outcome 1 Outcome 3 Outcome 5
Farming Roadmap	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Made Smarter	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 7
Precision Breeding Regulations	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 6
FSA/ FSS Cell Cultivated Products Sandbox	England, Scotland, Wales	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
FSA Food Innovation Hub supporting precision fermentation	England, Wales	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Farming Innovation Programme	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7
Industrial Strategy	Various	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Fair Dealings regulations	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7
Farming Profitability Review	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Circular Economy Strategy	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 10
Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund	UK wide	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9 Outcome 10
SME Strategy	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Double mutuals and co-operative sector	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9 Outcome 10
Reduce business admin costs by 25%	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Making Work Pay initiative on labour market reform	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 4

Outcome 4: Food sector attracts talent and develops skilled workforce in every region 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
UK Seafood Careers Project	England	Outcome 4 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
New Future’s Network	England	Outcome 4 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9 Outcome 10
Seasonal and Skilled Worker Visa Route	UK wide	Outcome 4 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Skills England	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 7
Employment Rights Bill	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 7
Restoring Control over the Immigration System White Paper	UK wide	Outcome 4 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9 Outcome 10

Outcome 5: Food supply is environmentally sustainable, with high animal welfare standards, and waste is reduced 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS)	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Farming Roadmap	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Land Use Framework	England	Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Environmental Improvement Plan	England	Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7
The Third National Adaptation Programme	England	Outcome 2 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Circular Economy Strategy	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 10
Animal Welfare Strategy	England	Outcome 5 Outcome 7
Food Data Transparency Partnership	Various	Outcome 1 Outcome 3 Outcome 5
Expanding the role of the private sector in nature recovery: call for evidence	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Fisheries Management Plans	Various	Outcome 1 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8

Outcome 6: Trade supports environmentally sustainable growth, upholds British standards and expands export opportunities 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
Trade Strategy	UK wide	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Tariffs and Trade Deals (including UK-EU SPS Agreement)	UK wide	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS)	UK wide	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)	UK wide	Outcome 1 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Sustainable Productivity Growth Coalition (SPG)	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Official Development Assistance (ODA)	UK wide	Outcome 5 Outcome 6
UK Geographical Indications (GI) Scheme delivery	GB wide	Outcome 6 Outcome 9 Outcome 10
Food Standards (Codex)	UK wide	Outcome 6 Outcome 8

Outcome 7: Resilient domestic production for a secure supply of healthy food 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
UK Food Security Report	Various	Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Farming Roadmap	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Farming Profitability Review	England	Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Circular Economy Strategy	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 10
The Third National Adaptation Programme	England	Outcome 2 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Precision Breeding Act	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Fisheries Management Plans	Various	Outcome 1 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8

Outcome 8: Greater preparedness for supply chain shocks, disruption and impacts of chronic risks 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
National Risk Register	UK wide (reserved and devolved depending on policy area)	Outcome 8
Resilience Action Plan	Devolved but coordinated	Outcome 8
National Security Strategy	UK wide	Outcome Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Prepare Campaign	UK wide	Outcome 8
UK Biological Security Strategy	Various	Outcome 3 Outcome 6 Outcome 8
Trade Strategy	UK wide	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Tariffs and Trade Deals (including UK-EU SPS Agreement)	UK wide	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9
Environmental Improvement Plan	England	Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Farming water resources planning with EA	England	Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Circular Economy Strategy	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 5 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 10
The Third National Adaptation Programme	England	Outcome 2 Outcome 5 Outcome 6 Outcome 7 Outcome 8
Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower Mission	UK wide	Outcome 1 Outcome 7 Outcome 8

Outcome 9: Celebrated and valued UK, regional and local food cultures 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
Plan for Neighbourhoods	UK wide	Outcome 9 Outcome 10
UK Geographical Indications (GI) Scheme delivery	GB wide (reserved: England, Wales, Scotland)	Outcome 3 Outcome 6 Outcome 9 Outcome 10
Securing and implementing international GI protection	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 6 Outcome 9
GREAT campaign	UK wide	Outcome 3 Outcome 6 Outcome 9
Local food strategies and plans	Various	Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Outcome 7 Outcome 8 Outcome 9 Outcome 10

Outcome 10: People are more connected to their local food systems and have the confidence knowledge and skills to cook and eat healthily 

Policy	Geographic scope	Relevant outcomes
Family hubs	England	Outcome 1 Outcome 8 Outcome 10
National curriculum	England	Outcome 10
Plan for Neighbourhoods	UK wide	Outcome 2 Outcome 10
Start for Life	England	Outcome 10
Healthier Families	England	Outcome 10