Guido revealed sachets could be banned in Britain as we follow the EU’s direction. What could be next under Labour’s EU reset?
Bans already in force in the EU, set to come to Britain:
- Smoky flavourings in crisps, sauces and soups: since 1 July 2026.
- Plastic straws, cutlery, plates, stirrers, cotton buds, polystyrene cups and boxes: since 2021
- Plastic balloon sticks: since 2021
- Oxo-degradable plastic: since 2021
- Phones without USB-C charging: since December 2024; laptops since April 2026
- New cars without speed-limit warning tech: since July 2024
- Loose glitter and products with added microplastics: since October 2023
- Detachable bottle caps: since July 2024
- Green claims like “eco-friendly”: since September 2026
- Destroying unsold clothes and shoes: large firms since July 2026
- Furniture and flooring above formaldehyde limits: since August 2026
- Mercury dental fillings: since 1 January 2025
- PFAS in food packaging: since 12 August 2026
- Sunscreen filter 4-MBC: since 1 May 2026 (Britain follows January 2027)
- Silicones D4, D5 and D6 in moisturisers and other leave-on products: since June 2026
- Tattoo ink chemicals, including pigments Blue 15:3 and Green 7: since 2022 and 2023
On the way to the EU, and therefore to Britain:
- Plastic tea bags, coffee pods and fruit stickers: must be compostable from 2028
- Smoky flavourings in ham, fish and cheese: 1 July 2029
- Microplastics in leave-on cosmetics: 2029
- Plant-based “steak”, “bacon”, “chicken” and 28 other names: after a three-year transition, around August 2029
- Sauce, sugar and other sachets for eating in
- Hotel mini shampoos and soaps
- Plastic on fruit and veg under 1.5kg
- Plastic film bundling multipacks
- Plastic cups, plates and trays for eating in
- Very light plastic bags
- Airport suitcase wrap
- Packaging that cannot be recycled
- Goods linked to deforestation (beef, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soy): due end of 2026 after delays and may be softened
- Certain hair dye ingredients: limits from 1 January 2027
- Glued-in batteries in phones and gadgets (and most disposable vapes): February 2027
- Retinol creams above 0.3%: May 2027
- Cash payments over €10,000 and anonymous crypto accounts: July 2027
- Microplastics in shower gel, shampoo and other wash-off products: October 2027
Proposed, likely on the way:
- Cigarette filters: Commission considering it
- Smoking on terraces, bus stops and playgrounds: non-binding call
- Caged farm animals: proposal promised for late 2026
- Fur farming and fur sales
- New wood burners: tougher rules on new stoves expected 2027 or 2028
- Fossil fuel boilers: buildings law aims to end them by 2040
- Alcohol cancer warnings: stalled
Strap in…
