Last Tuesday, the Council of Ministers gave the green light to the Annual Regulatory Plan (PAN) 2026. The document includes 179 initiatives, five of which affect consumption and the food sector. Sources from the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda have indicated to this media outlet that their intention is for the five initiatives to be approved by the Government throughout the second half of 2026. Specifically, one law and four royal decrees:
- Sustainable Consumption Law
- Royal Decree on accessible labeling of consumer products
- Royal Decree on general product safety
- Royal Decree on gambling deposit limits
- Royal Decree on menus in centers for dependent persons or those with special needs
All, except for the regulation aimed at ensuring healthy menus in centers that care for dependent people or those with special needs, were already included in the PAN of 2025. Even the royal decree that aims to establish a new community limit on online gambling deposits was already included in the PAN of 2024, the first of this coalition government.
Demócrata reviews at what point each initiative is at this stage and the possibilities each one has of ending up published in the BOE before the end of the year.
Sustainable consumption
In July 2025, the Government gave the green light to the Draft Law on Sustainable Consumption, an initiative that, after going through public consultation, is awaiting second approval by the Council of Ministers.
Sources consulted by Demócrata in October indicated that the ministry's intention was to submit the proposal "as soon as possible," but without specifying deadlines, as they continued to work due to the high number of allegations they had received and the desire to "make the law even more ambitious" than what was outlined in the initial text. Now, from the ministry, they convey to this outlet the intention to do so before the end of the year, between June and December 2026.
The proposal would include:
- End of fossil fuel advertising
- Crackdown on fear advertising (e.g., anti-squatter alarms)
- End "copostureo" or greenwashing (a commercial practice that seeks to gain an unfair competitive advantage by marketing a product or service as environmentally friendly when, in reality, the information is not true or is not clear)
- Limit planned obsolescence
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Prohibit the resale of tickets when the price increases above the CPI
As it is a law, after its passage through the Council of Ministers it will be sent to the Courts. Once there, its approval will be in the hands of the partners and the opposition parties.
Product labeling
Another of the initiatives for which there is already a firm text proposal is the Royal Decree regulating accessible labeling of consumer products. The norm aims to include the Braille system on cosmetic products, detergents and cleaners, and food products.
According to the draft that this media outlet had access to, those responsible for providing the labeling service on these products will be the commercial establishments in Spanish territory with a store area greater than 400 square meters. This premise would also be mandatory for services provided electronically.
As it is a royal decree, its materialization depends on the will of the ministry and the priority it gives to the issue.
Product Safety
For its part, the Draft Royal Decree on the general safety of products went through public consultation in March 2025 and is now awaiting the ministry to finalize its definitive wording to be submitted and approved by the Council of Ministers.
The published draft advocates for authorities to be able to order the removal of content, block dangerous offers, or require visible warnings on digital platforms. On the other hand, if an Autonomous Community considers a product dangerous, the others will also be able to presume its dangerousness without repeating the entire investigation.
Games Deposit
Since his arrival at the ministry, Bustinduy has declared war on the gambling sector, although luck has not accompanied him. In 2025, several fronts were opened that impacted its advertising, promotions, and shook the video game industry. However, none have come to fruition. The latest failure occurred in December, when Congress rejected the package of amendments for the regulation of the Gambling sector that Bustinduy intended to integrate into the Customer Service Bill.
Regarding this royal decree, which was also included in the PAN 2024 and 2025, it aims to strengthen player protection with a more effective self-control tool. Currently, each operator individually applies its own deposit limits; however, with the new regulation, these limits would be calculated in an aggregated manner for all operators in which a user has an open gaming account. In this way, it is intended to prevent players from circumventing the established limits by making smaller deposits on different online gaming platforms.
Dependent menus
Last April, a royal decree came into effect to improve the nutritional quality of school menus. Under the premise of betting on healthy eating and food sustainability, the ministry is now working on a regulation with very similar content for public schools and private centers for dependent persons or those with special needs. Ministry sources assure that the text, which they are already working on, will be very much in line with that of school menus, whose axis was to establish minimum nutritional quality and sustainability criteria in the contracting, acquisition, and offering of food and beverages.
another front for bustinduy
The Sustainable Consumption Law is not the only regulation of this rank that the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda aims to advance this year.
The Annual Regulatory Plan also includes the approval of the Law for the protection of the rights of great apes, better known as the Goodall Law. In July 2024, the ministry put the preliminary draft out for public consultation. Among other issues, that draft text:
- Established the express prohibition of experimenting or researching on them when it may cause them harm and does not benefit them.
- Set very rigorous conditions, always in optimal environments for their development, for their keeping or custody, in any case for conservation purposes.
- Prohibited their use for commercial purposes or in any type of performance that undermines their dignity.