Code of Practice to regulate multiples
New code of practice to be introduced on a voluntary basis within weeks.
Print17 February 2010
IFA president John Bryan has said the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith’s announcement that the new Code of Practice will be introduced on a voluntary basis within weeks to regulate the increasing concentration of power in the supermarket sector, is a step in the right direction.
The Minister also confirmed that this code would become statutory under new legislation to be moved by the Tánaiste Mary Coughlan in this Dáil term.
The IFA President said the discounting of Irish food produce is being done at the expense of farmers, while the multiples protect their margins and boost their corporate profits. He said that a code of practice must outlaw below cost selling, promote fair trade and prevent retailers from forcing suppliers and producers to fund retail price reductions.
John Bryan also insisted that any Code of Practice must have an independent Ombudsman office, which would have legal powers to demand information from retailers as part of their investigations and provide anonymity and confidentiality to suppliers who make complaints to initiate investigations.
The IFA President said there would have to be a rebalancing of the food marketing chain, to ensure that farm families can get a viable income from the marketplace.
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