Government must fast forward plan for retail adjudicator
The Tenant Farmers Association’s National Vice Chairman, Stephen Wyrill has called on the Government to fast forward its plan to introduce a retail adjudicator to support the operation of the Grocery Supply Chain Code of Practice and to ensure it has the relevant powers to be a real force for good.
Speaking before this year’s Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate, Mr Wyrill said "Large scale retailers play an important role in society and for the vast majority of people they will provide the only or at least the most significant point of contact with food and food production. However, as large scale operators they wield tremendous power in the market place which they can and do use to the detriment particularly of small-scale farmers and processors by insisting on unfair trading practices. Whilst we have a code of practice which governs these trading relationships, we still need an adjudicator with teeth. The recent news headlines have been filled with details of how large corporations flout the law let alone codes of practice which underlines the need to ensure that we have proper regulation in place."
The Government has produced a draft Bill which it intends to introduce in the next session of Parliament. The TFA has identified two essential amendments that need to be made to ensure that the Adjudicator will be fit for purpose.
"It is important that the Adjudicator has what I would term ’parachute-powers’ that will enable it to conduct short notice inspections of individual retailers to ensure compliance with the code of practice in much the same way as OFSTED inspectors are able to do with schools. This power is currently missing from the draft Bill and the TFA is urging the Government to include it. The introduction of such a power will ensure that large retailers are aware that they are at risk of an inspection at any time and they will need to ensure that they maintain high standards of compliance with the code at all times," said Mr Wyrill.
"The current draft Bill provides powers for the Adjudicator to ’name-and-shame’ any large retailer it finds to be in breach of the code of practice. The TFA does not believe this is sufficient. The Adjudicator should also retain powers to fine a retailer which it finds to be in breach against criteria set out in Regulations. The Government’s position is that it wants to reserve this power but consider the implementation at a later point. The TFA believes the power should be available to the Adjudicator from day one," said Mr Wyrill.
"The time for debate and discussion is over. Without an Adjudicator the code of practice has been found wanting and further delay will simply allow bad practice to continue for a longer period of time," said Mr Wyrill.
