Dairy UK Director General Jim Begg described today’s publication of the industry Voluntary Code of Best Practice on Contractual Arrangements as a landmark event.

“The Code should give dairy farmers confidence in their contractual arrangements and enable dairy farmers and processors to develop deeper relationships of trust and mutual understanding”, said Begg. “We now expect publication of the Code to avoid regulation of farm contracts, which nobody wanted, and that Defra and the devolved administrations will recognise this when they consult on the implementation of the Dairy Package.”

Mr Begg went on to explain that publication of the Code has been delayed slightly in order to secure the necessary legal clearance, “but we have already communicated the contents of the Code down through our membership in a series of briefing meetings. It’s now up to individual dairy companies to take the Code forward with their supplying farmers.

“The focus for Dairy UK is now very firmly on the arrangements for implementing Producer Organisations in the UK. This is also an important part of the Dairy Package. It is vital for everyone in the supply chain that the industry adopts the right approach in the setting up and operation of Producer Organisations. As with the Voluntary Code, this is another area where best results will be achieved through discussions across the supply chain. We would be very happy to work with the farming unions in preparation for and after the Government consultation.”

Click here to access the voluntary code of practice

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