Price controls on essential food items: draft legislative provisions

Closes 24 Nov 2026

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Chapter 3: The goods which could be subject to price caps

This chapter considers which goods could be subject to a cap and how that might be determined.

The selection of products is central to the effectiveness of the policy.  It engages a range of complexities.  It requires consideration of consumer preference to maximise benefit of the intervention. It requires detailed regard for religious and other dietary needs.

We know that the choice of products could also have wider impacts. The introduction of price controls may impact patterns of consumer demand. It may have direct consequences for product availability, producer requirements and food supply chains. There may be indirect consequences for production, including impacts on supply chain resilience, animal welfare and net zero objectives.

This chapter seeks your views on how items should be chosen and kept under review, and the various factors that could go into making that decision.

14. To what extent do you think the following factors should be taken into account when selecting items that would be subject to a price cap?

(0 – not important; 5 – very important)
15. Which food items or product types should be prioritised for inclusion in any future price cap scheme?
16. Are there any food items or product types should that you think should not be included in any future price cap scheme?
17. How should the Scottish Government take into account the seasonality of food when applying price caps to essential food items?
18. How should the Scottish Government take into account the issue of applying price caps to products that come in different sizes, weights, quantity, etc.?
19. How should the Scottish Government reflect the varying nutritional requirements of the population for example due to health needs, religious requirements, cultural, social or other preferences?