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The European Union is imposing new regulations on the UK, due to come into action in just hours.

From tomorrow, the first stage of a three-part package of food labelling laws will be enforced under the Marking of Retail Goods Regulations. Under these rules, products moving from Britain to Northern Ireland must carry a “Not for EU” label – a measure that has been in place in Northern Ireland since 2023 in more limited form.

However, the latest update extends sweeping new enforcement powers to UK ministers, effectively allowing them to apply “Not for EU” labelling requirements across the whole of Great Britain if they deem it necessary.

A wide range of everyday products could fall under this rule, including pre-packed fruit and vegetables, bagged herbs, fish and seafood such as cod, salmon, scampi and tuna, dairy-based desserts like trifles and ice cream, and meaty meals such as lasagne, pork pies, Scotch eggs and pizzas.

Other items on the potential list include sauces, guacamole, chilled drinks like milkshakes, baby food, high-risk products including rice, peanuts, tea, and even complete meal kits.

Under the Government’s new powers, if a minister judges that Britain-based suppliers might pull their products from Northern Ireland to avoid these labelling rules, they can place affected products on a “watchlist”, forcing all GB manufacturers of those goods to adopt “Not for EU” labelling.

According to the official explanatory memorandum, these expanded powers are designed to deter disruption in supply chains and to protect Northern Ireland’s access to goods, maintaining the UK’s obligations under the Windsor Framework.

Ministers argue that the threat of extending the labelling nationwide creates a “credible threat of enforcement” to stop suppliers from boycotting the Northern Irish market altogether.

On the other hand, critics have branded the measure a surrender of British sovereignty. Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice party, called the move a “constitutional outrage”, adding: “If enforcing foreign laws inside Britain, by British hands, isn’t a constitutional outrage, then what on Earth was Brexit for?”

Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice also condemned the change: “We left the EU to restore our sovereignty and forge competitive trade deals on our own terms,” he said. “Unfortunately, the EU deal showed that this Government is too often willing to compromise British sovereignty to appease foreign interests.”

Manufacturers are also worried about the practical impact, as, in effect, if a product is regulated and placed on the British market, it must carry a “Not for EU” label, even if it is also exported abroad.

Industry groups warn that businesses could be forced to run two separate packaging lines – one marked “Not for EU” for UK domestic sales, and one without for EU and international customers – adding significant costs and complexity.

The complaints also come from social media, where shoppers and retailers alike voice anger at the rules. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “Next week sees the final phase of the Windsor Framework come into effect, adding yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape for food retailers like M&S.”

“Quite frankly it’s bureaucratic madness, confusing for customers, and completely unnecessary given the UK has some of the highest food standards in the world.”