Retailers may face substantial fines for malpractice following the move to grant the Grocery Code Adjudicator (GCA) the ability to fine retailers has come immediately after calls from MPs to extend the remit of the office of Christine Tacon to indirect supply.
The powers, which had been planned since the inception of the Grocery Code Adjudicator, gives the ability to impose substantial fines on retailers of up to 1% of turnover if a retailer is found to have punished a direct supplier through unfair trading practices.
NFU Scotland welcomed this move as it gives the Grocery Code Adjudicator the teeth required to change practice within the supply chain, which will improve the stability of farmer and processor businesses.
However, NFU Scotland has consistently encouraged the UK government to extend the role of the Grocery Code Adjudicator to cover indirect supply, protecting farmers and primary producers from malpractice within the industry. The need for a wider approach to supply chain relationships was highlighted in recent weeks because of the continuing plight of dairy farmers across the country, with farmgate milk prices falling below the cost of production for many.
NFUS chief executive Scott Walker said: “It’s positive that the GCA is finally getting the claws with which to fight malpractice, but it was clear before farmgate milk prices fell so low that the remit of the Adjudicator must be extended beyond direct supply relationships.
“Farmers and producers of all types need to feel secure in their businesses and the primary focus of legislators and industry bodies should be to protect farmers from unfair trading practices.
“We welcome the positive work that has been done by the office of the Grocery Code Adjudicator and look forward to working with Ms Tacon now buoyed by the powers announced.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
