EU beef and dairy industry pricing transparency rules signed into Irish law
Changes were designed to provide more information on prices at each stage of the food supply chain
Print7 September 2021
EU rules to improve food market price transparency in the meat and dairy industries have been signed into law by Minister for Agriculture and Food Charlie McConalogue.
Building on existing price reporting obligations, the changes were designed to provide more information on prices at each stage of the food supply chain. While information about farm gate prices, volumes and stocks, and the prices paid by consumers at retail level is largely available, there is limited information about prices at other stages of the chain, for example the prices at which processors sell product and the prices at which retailers buy product.
The enhanced reporting requirements for Ireland apply to both the meat and dairy sectors.
Before these changes are implanted at EU level, the department has provided additional detailed price reporting on the Beef PriceWatch app. Bord Bia has also developed a weekly beef market price index model as part of the work of the Beef TaskForce. This index shows the relationship between the Irish beef price and a composite export benchmark price which reflects the relative importance of key markets for Irish beef; an index of wholesale and retail prices; and a by-product market indicator.
“I am committed to bringing Increased market transparency to all elements of the supply chain,” said Minister McConalogue. “I believe increased price reporting to be an important tool, along with other initiatives including the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) legislation and support for producer organisations, in strengthening the position of primary producers, who are key to the success of our sector.
“My department is progressing the drafting of legislation needed to establish the new Office of the Food Ombudsman or equivalent, which will have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland, as well as enforcing the UTP Directive.
“I intend that the new office will build on existing work on market transparency, including the market transparency studies commissioned by my department as part of the work of the Beef Taskforce, which have been completed and published.”
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