SugarWatch Europe follows the rules that decide how much sugar ends up in Europe's food: taxes, labels, limits on advertising, court cases, and the lobbying around them. We are a small, independent non-profit.
At EU level · Digital Fairness Act
The Commission tabled its Digital Fairness Act on 11 November 2026. It would extend the ban on personalised ads aimed at minors to all websites and apps, and tighten the rules on influencer marketing.
What we askRules that stop brands from targeting children online with sugary products, through influencers, games and social media.
Our campaign · Food marketing to children
Influencers, targeted ads, video platforms: EU law still lets brands promote sugary products to minors. Three EU laws that shape what children see online are on the table right now.
What we askBinding rules in all three laws, for every child under 18, based on the WHO Europe definition of foods that should not be marketed to children.
At EU level · Audiovisual Media Services Directive
Since 2018, advertising for foods high in fat, salt and sugar around children's programmes has been left to voluntary codes. The Commission must report on the directive by 19 December 2026.
What we askBinding limits on advertising for sugary foods around children's programmes and on video-sharing platforms, in place of voluntary codes.
The Bundestag finance committee approved it on 12 November 2026, with a later start than the cabinet wanted: 1 January 2028 instead of 1 July 2027. Three rates instead of two.
Next: Bundestag vote with the 2027 budget, late November
The National Assembly rejected the whole bill on 23 October 2026. The Senate adopted the levy on 10 November, with artisanal products excluded.
Next: Senate vote 18 November; deadline 26 November
Case referred to the EU Court of Justice on 16 June 2026.
Next: Court of Justice ruling
Postponed eight times since 2020. The 2027 budget bill would delay it a ninth time, to 1 July 2027.
Next: Parliament votes the budget, December 2026
The World Health Organization recommends keeping free sugars below 10% of daily energy intake, and ideally below 5%. Surveys in Europe find that children get 11 to 17% of their energy from added sugars. Much of it comes with the food they are offered: recipes, prices, school meals, and the advertising aimed at them.
Governments decide a good part of this, in Brussels and in national capitals, and children and lower-income households have the most at stake.
Who lobbies on which file, with what budget and how many meetings, taken from public registers.
What the research says about added sugars, including where the evidence is still weak.
An announcement is not a rule. We track what the EU promises on sugar and what it actually adopts, and we use what Member States have done to argue for action at EU level.
Rules should protect children first, and the households with the least choice about what they buy.
Legislation, consultations, court cases and national measures, and who lobbies on them, through public registers.
Independent data such as the Sugar & Health Index. Every figure is sourced, so that anyone can check it.
We bring the evidence to policymakers, journalists and the public, and take public positions.
We rely on primary sources first: official journals, parliamentary records, Commission documents and court rulings.
How we work and how we are funded
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