Government review of Grocery abuse watchdog - Our comment

The Government review of the work of the Groceries Code Adjudicator was published today and suggests that the Adjudicator is working well and has any on-going problems in hand. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Margot James MP, must now take the next step and extend its remit to support farmers.

Get updates

Press office

Vicki Hird, Sustain Faming Campaign Coordinator says:

"Unfair practices in the food supply chain have been a problem for many years so it is welcome to hear that the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) will not be abolished by this Government so it can continue and ideally increase its oversight of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCoP). Yet we are concerned that deep problems remain with many aspect of fairness in the food supply chain, harming both farmers trying to make a living and consumers who lose out in terms of choice."

"The next phase of the review concerning extending the remit of the GCA is crucial and we very much hope the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will recommend an extension to the scope of the GSCoP and GCA remit to cover manufacturers and suppliers along the food supply chain so it covers more than the top retailers. This strengthening of the remit is vital to stop unfair risks and costs being passed down to suppliers – including farmers – at home and overseas."

Vicki HIrd (vicki@sustainweb.org 07903 478249)

Notes