“Time for a fair deal for farmers” – Carmichael to introduce Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today announced plans to introduce the Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill in Parliament on Wednesday 19th March. The Bill is intended to introduce a range of provisions to get fairer prices for farmers and food producers across the UK, including strengthening the Groceries Code Adjudicator in terms of remit and resources, supporting greater public procurement of locally produced food, and enhanced origin labelling requirements.
The Bill has been developed in discussion with farming and rural organisations including the National Farmers’ Union, the Country Land and Business Association, the Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Countryside Alliance and Scottish Land and Estates.
The Bill also fulfils Mr Carmichael’s commitment, made during the General Election last year, to reintroduce legislation to boost the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, which is currently holding an inquiry on “fairness in the food supply chain”.
Mr Carmichael said:
“I am absolutely delighted to be able to introduce this Bill and to have dedicated time in the House to make the case for it. It was a major plank of my election campaign last year to reintroduce legislation which would beef up the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator and other regulatory bodies, in support of fairness for farmers and food producers – so I am glad to be able to deliver on that promise with this Bill.
“This is about supporting local farmers but it is also ultimately about supporting UK consumers too. The supermarkets have taken advantage of their market dominance for too long, and that is not working for anyone but them. If we want strong and vibrant rural communities in this country then we need a fair deal and fair prices for farmers and food producers.
“I know from discussions that this is a matter of significant interest for the farming unions and other rural organisations, and I have been glad to have their advice and support in developing this Bill. The Groceries Code Adjudicator was an important step forward when my party created it in government, but it has not achieved everything that we wanted it to in terms of protecting food producers and consumers.
“This is an opportunity for a fairer deal where it really matters to our communities – I hope that the government will engage with this Bill constructively to deliver on these goals.”
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said:
“The CLA supports the introduction of the Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill. We believe the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) needs to be strengthened to make the supply chain fairer for farmers and rural businesses.
“We encourage MPs from all parties to support the Bill, as Britain’s supply chain continues to be heavily weighted in favour of the retail sector.”
Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) Chief Executive George Dunn said:
“The TFA is extremely grateful to Alistair Carmichael and the Liberal Democrats for choosing food supply chain fairness as the focus of their forthcoming 10 Minute Rule Bill within Parliament.
“Whilst there is much talk in government about food security, driving fair returns to primary producers and ensuring a farm to fork approach, the reality falls a long way short of the rhetoric. Whilst the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is doing some good work in regulating the relationship between the biggest retailers and their suppliers, it could do much more with a wider remit and more powers particularly around investigation.
“There is also a clear need to bring more retailers into the scope of the GCA. However, one of the biggest failings of the current regulatory system is the lack of a joined-up farm to fork approach. The GCA has no remit for the relationships between primary producers and the processors who buy their products to sell on to the retail sector. Whilst DEFRA is in the throes of creating separate supply chain codes of practice and appointing supply chain adjudicators, there is no clarity about how those codes and roles should work with the GCA.
“Mr Carmichael's Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill addresses those concerns head on and the TFA is pleased to give it our full support".