The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will assume responsibility for the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) from 1st July 2026.
The GCA will remain fully independent, and there will be no changes to its statutory role or enforcement powers.
Defra will take over from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), stating that the Groceries Supply Code of Practice will continue to be owned by the Competition and Markets Authority. Further detail on implementation will be set out by July.
The GCA’s purpose is to regulate the relationship between grocery retailers and their direct suppliers by encouraging, monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.
According to Government, the change will “strengthen fairness” across the UK food supply chain, with the intention of supporting farmers and food producers.
Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle commented: “We are backing our farmers by creating a level playing right across the supply chain to ensure productive and profitable businesses can flourish.
“Moving responsibility for the Groceries Code Adjudicator to Defra will support a more joined-up approach to fairness across the food supply chain, while fully protecting its independence and statutory role.”
Groceries Code Adjudicator Mark White stated: “I am looking forward to working more closely with Defra to continue to ensure fair treatment of direct suppliers to the designated retailers.”
The change reportedly implements a key recommendation from Baroness Minette Batters’ Farming Profitability Review to streamline oversight of the grocery supply chain and strengthens links to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).
