Guide
Natasha’s Law in Scotland vs England
PPDS allergen labelling requirements apply across the UK, including Scotland and England, from 1 October 2021. Practical guidance is published by the FSA for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and by Food Standards Scotland for Scotland — the core duty (name plus emphasised ingredients list on PPDS food) is the same.
Reviewed against official guidance.SourcesNot legal advice.
Same core duty
England / Wales / NI vs Scotland
| Topic | England, Wales, NI | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| Core PPDS duty | Name + ingredients with allergen emphasis | Same |
| Start date | 1 October 2021 | 1 October 2021 |
| Practical guidance | Food Standards Agency | Food Standards Scotland |
| Enforcement | Local authority food teams | Local authority food teams |
If you sell PPDS food, customers get the food name and full ingredients with allergens emphasised whether your premises are in Manchester or Glasgow. Do not assume Scotland somehow “skipped” Natasha’s Law.
Where guidance lives
- England, Wales, Northern Ireland — Food Standards Agency PPDS materials on GOV.UK
- Scotland — Food Standards Scotland PPDS / allergen resources
What differs in practice
Local authority procedures, inspection programmes and sector campaigns can differ. Always use the guidance for the nation you trade in, and ask the council that registers your business.
Cross-border sellers
If you bake in one nation and stall in another, meet the labelling duty everywhere you supply PPDS food — keep one accurate master list.
Questions
Is FSS guidance different on emphasis?
Do I need separate labels for Scotland?
Official sources
Everything on this page traces back to these. Where they and we disagree, they are right — tell us and we'll fix it.
- Introduction to allergen labelling for PPDS foodFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK
- Labelling guidance for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food productsFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK
- Food allergen labelling and information requirements technical guidanceFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK