Draft Marking of Retail Goods Regulations 2025

Monday, 30 June 2025 · Division No. 246 · Commons

315Ayes

–

4Noes

Passed

328 MPs did not vote

cross-cuttingGovernment wonPro Uk Internal Market(Yes)Pro Northern Ireland Trade Protections(Yes)Pro Post Brexit Regulatory Management(Yes)Pro Consumer Choice(Yes)

Voting Yes means

Support giving the government power to introduce 'not for EU' labelling to protect the supply and variety of retail goods available to consumers in Northern Ireland and uphold the UK internal market.

Voting No means

Oppose these labelling regulations, potentially citing concerns about burdens on businesses, the adequacy of the underlying Brexit trade arrangements, or the specific approach taken.

What happened: On 30 June 2025, Parliament voted to approve the Draft Marking of Retail Goods Regulations 2025, which require retailers to clearly mark the origin or other key information on goods sold to consumers in the UK. The motion passed by a substantial margin of 315 votes to 4.

Why it matters: These regulations introduce a legal requirement for retail goods to carry specified markings, giving consumers clearer information about the products they purchase. In practical terms, this means retailers will need to ensure their products meet labelling standards before sale, with the aim of improving transparency in the marketplace. The regulations represent an exercise of government authority over how goods are presented to the public, affecting retailers across the UK and the products they stock.

The politics: Support was overwhelmingly cross-party, with Labour, Labour and Co-operative, Liberal Democrat, and Alliance Party of Northern Ireland members all voting in favour, alongside several independents. The only opposition came from four members of the Democratic Unionist Party and one Traditional Unionist Voice member, with a single independent also voting against. The DUP's opposition may reflect concerns about how such marking requirements interact with Northern Ireland's particular trading position. Reform UK, the Ulster Unionist Party, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party were all absent from the vote. The result reflects broad parliamentary consensus on the principle of consumer-facing retail labelling.