A new report has backed up calls for an effective adjudicator to police the UK Groceries Supply Chain Code of Practice. However, it concludes that the international reach of some major retail chains means wider EU measures must be considered to ensure fair treatment for farmers and consumers.

Development organisation Traidcraft, the NFU and EU farm organisations Boerenbond and Coldiretti, commissioned the report, by the British Institute for International and Comparative Law (BIICL), to identify how the European Union could take steps to tackle unfair commercial practices in dealings between retailers and suppliers. The NFU horticulture board is also compiling evidence of abuses in the fresh produce supply chain to form a separate report.

The BIICL report reveals that at least 10 EU Member States have already taken steps at a national level to root out bad practice while a further five are in the process of implementing measures.

Speaking about the report, NFU Director of Corporate Affairs, Tom Hind said, “The challenges that suppliers face in dealing with abusive behaviour from supermarkets and other big businesses is not unique to British farmers, but also affects those in developing countries and other parts of the EU. That’s why we felt it was important to collaborate on this important research.

Farmers have been urged to encourage their MP to support the establishment of a Groceries Code Adjudicator, which could feature in this year’s Queen’s speech in May. The adjudicator bill could feature in the next parliamentary session and is expected to become law if it does, although farming union officials have said that if the bill does not feature, serious questions will be raised over the commitment of politicians to the interests of consumers and producers.

Fiona Gooch, policy adviser at Traidcraft, also urged consideration of the wider implications of abuse by large retailers, which stretches beyond British shores. She said, “It is really important that we look beyond the UK. As the food industry becomes more multinational, increasingly there will be a case for the EU to ensure some consistency and effective enforcement across all member states. Failure to act would not only have a detrimental impact on farmers across the EU and in developing countries but ultimately undermine consumer choice in the long-term.”

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