Scottish ministers have reversed the planned switch‑on of Section 6 of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022. Regulations signed on 11 December, laid on 12 December and taking effect on 15 December revoke the earlier Commencement No. 4 order, so Section 6 will not start on 16 December as scheduled.

Section 6 is the duty that would require ministers to have regard to the national Good Food Nation Plan when exercising specified functions. In plain terms, the plan must be weighed in decisions-and where ministers depart from it, they should be able to give clear reasons. The functions covered are set by separate regulations.

The national plan was laid before Holyrood on 27 June 2025 and is due to be finalised by the end of December. It sets six outcomes, including a sustainable food system that supports net zero and climate adaptation, healthier diets, and stronger community participation. Committees have been scrutinising both the plan and supporting regulations.

Why this matters for climate delivery: agriculture produced 7.7 MtCO2e of Scotland’s emissions in 2022 and was essentially flat in 2023 at around 7.5 MtCO2e. The Climate Change Committee’s pathway expects roughly a one‑third cut in farm emissions by 2035, supported by changes in diets and productivity.

Food waste is another pressure point. Scotland generated an estimated 1.04 million tonnes of food waste in 2021, with households responsible for the majority; Zero Waste Scotland estimates food waste contributes over 6% of the nation’s carbon footprint.

What the pause means now: without Section 6 in force, cross‑government decisions do not yet carry the statutory ‘have regard’ test against the national plan. Other duties continue-local authorities and health boards must prepare their own plans, and ministers must report every two years-so delivery work should not stall.

Timing appears to be the issue. Draft regulations that define the “specified functions” were scrutinised on 3 December and were billed to start on 23 December, in time for the final plan. Pausing Section 6 until that package is settled would avoid a legal duty switching on ahead of detailed coverage.

For public bodies, there is ample room to act now. Scotland’s sustainable procurement duty already requires buyers to consider social, environmental and economic wellbeing. School food guidance emphasises sustainable provision, and government partners are updating ‘Catering for Change’ to help buyers specify healthy, lower‑carbon food.

Procurement scale matters: the public sector spends about £220 million a year through Scotland Excel food frameworks. That buying power can prioritise seasonal produce, cut waste through smarter menu planning and deliveries, and open contracts to smaller Scottish suppliers-improving diets while shrinking emissions.

Practical steps that do not need new law include publishing menu‑based emissions baselines, setting waste‑reduction targets aligned to the 33% cut goal, and scheduling regular, affordable plant‑rich options alongside sustainable Scottish produce. These align with the plan’s outcomes and independent climate advice.

The human test is access. Food insecurity eased in 2024, with 8% of adults worrying about running out of food-down from 14% in 2023-but single‑parent households still face far higher risk. A final plan that locks in cash‑first support and dignified access will keep equity and climate goals moving together.

What to watch next: a fresh commencement date for Section 6 aligned with the specified‑functions regulations, Parliament’s final response to the national plan by the end of December, and the first two‑year progress reporting cycle. Clear timelines and procurement‑led delivery can still turn Scotland’s food policy into measurable climate gains.