IFA asks for tighter laws on unfair trade practices
The Irish Farmers' Association will be making a detailed submission to the public consultation set up by the Dept of Agriculture to transpose EU legislation on Unfair Trading Practices into Irish law.
“There is provision for an independent retail regulator in the legislation, but this has to be transposed into Irish law. IFA has worked on this at European level and insisted there would have to be an independent enforcement authority in Ireland Farmers do not have faith in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to carry out this work. The enforcement authority, which will have powers to investigate complaints and levy fines, will have to be a properly-resourced, independent office. Retailers have a dominant position in the food chain and IFA wants the Government to introduce a retail ombudsman who will have strong independent oversight and regulation of the sector,” IFA President Joe Healy said.
For this measure, Mr Healy pointed to the UK, where there is a position for Groceries Code Adjudicator, who oversees the implementation of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice by designated retailers with their direct suppliers. In fact, Christine Tacon, the UK’s first Groceries Code Adjudicator has been invited to address a conference organised by IFA next month and to share from her experience with retailers and their suppliers.
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