NFU calls for GCA role to be extended
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for the government to extend the role of the Grocery Code Adjudicator (GCA) to cover more of the supply chain.
NFU president, Meurig Raymond.
The request follows an announcement that the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has agreed to launch an industry call for evidence of unfair trading practices, alongside the statutory review of the GCA role.
The GCA was introduced in 2013 with a remit to enforce the Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) covering the ten largest retailers.
NFU president, Meurig Raymond commented: “The GCA plays an important role within the grocery sector and we must recognise this success Christine Tacon, the GCA, has achieved within the retailer sector over the last three years.
“The GCA’s recent survey results showed 62% of suppliers had experienced an issue with the GSCOP code, compared to 79% in 2014. There has also been a significant increase of written supply agreements in place over the last three years, rising by 12% since 2014.”
“The NFU believes the power of the GCA’s presence has enabled this change and therefore this way of working now needs to be replicated throughout the supply chain.
“Sustainability, risk management and volatility management must be the food supply chains core principles for British farming businesses to thrive,” Raymond continued. “Unfair trading practices limit these principles of success and leads to smaller parties like our British farmers, losing out. This must stop.
“British farming is the bedrock of the food and drink industry – worth £108 billion – providing jobs for 3.9 million people growing the raw ingredients for UK food and drink. We need to create a supply system which is fair, transparent and has benefits for everyone in the food chain.”
NFU Scotland president, Allan Bowie, added: “The review into the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is an important step in assessing the performance of the GCA’s ability to enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP).
“Historically, unfair trading practices have dogged the groceries sector, and this has harmed both farmers and shoppers. This review should give us a clear picture of how well the GCA is fulfilling its task of preventing the unfair practices which are outlined in the GSCOP.”
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