The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has called on the Irish government to introduce a Groceries Code Adjudicator similar to that in place in the UK.
UK Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon was in Dublin yesterday addressing an IFA Conference.
Commenting on her role, IFA President Joe Healy said, “The work of Christine Tacon in the three years since her office was established in the UK as part of retail legislation provides irrefutable evidence of the need for independent enforcement of retail regulation in Ireland.
"The progress made in strengthening the supply chain and addressing supplier issues clearly supports IFA’s demand for an independent retail Ombudsman. This is necessary to assure suppliers that complaints will be investigated and abuses prosecuted."
In her presentation, Tacon revealed the findings of the GCA's most recent annual survey, which showed a 17% drop in the number of suppliers saying they had experienced potential breaches of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice in 2016 compared to 2014.
“I will continue to work with suppliers, retailers and customers to achieve change in the sector," she said. "My current focus is on payments for better positioning, margin maintenance, delay in payments and pay to stay”. [Photo: IFA.ie]
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
