Regulatory Review Group Minutes: June 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Professor Russel Griggs OBE, RRG Chair 
• Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Scottish Retail Consortium
• Susan Love, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants 
• Fiona Richardson, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities 
• Craig Brown, Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland
• Alexandra Connell, Trading Standards
• Douglas White, Consumer Scotland
• Robbie McGregor, British Standards Institute
• Iain Hall, United Kingdom Accreditation Service
• Brendan McGinty, Competition and Markets Authority
• Ashley Cooke, Scottish Government
• Gary Cox, Scottish Government

Apologies:

• Douglas White, Consumer Scotland

Items and actions

Welcome, introductions, approval of minutes

Professor Russel Griggs OBE welcomed and thanked attendees for participating in this in-person meeting of the Regulatory Review Group (RRG). Minutes from the previous meeting (26 May) were agreed.

Price Controls on Essential Food Items

Policy Officials gave an update on progress with the policy initiative for price caps for essential food items in supermarkets which was an SNP manifesto commitment. It was outlined that Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Business and Fair Work, has been assigned as the responsible Minister and that officials were working with him on this policy.

Members welcomed the chance for dialogue with the officials at this early stage in the development of the policy initiative and offered views on next steps and challenges, reiterating that the role of the RRG was to be supportive to policy teams throughout the policy making process. 

Scottish Government officials welcomed the views of RRG members. Members agreed that the RRG should write to the Minister for Business and Fair Work, and invited officials to continue dialogue with the Group as the proposals and consultation work progresses.

Draft RRG programme 2026/update on regulatory work

Scottish Government officials updated on next steps with regard to regulation work and outlined plans to discuss the RRG and regulation with the new Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport. The next Programme for Government was highlighted as likely to shape Government priorities on regulation, and also the need for cross-government work and sequencing of proposals was agreed by members.

The draft RRG programme was discussed and it was outlined that this would remain flexible to account for priorities and discussions with the relevant policy teams on timing - ensuring that issues were discussed by members at optimal times in the policy making process. Members were keen to ensure that the RRG was strategic in its approach where it sought to discuss issues to ensure maximum impact and prioritisation, rather than seeking to discuss a high volume of issues. Officials agreed to update members regularly on a workplan for discussions at RRG meetings, and possibly work carried out outside of meetings.

Next Steps/AOB

The next meeting of the group will be held virtually on 26 August.