Supermarket watchdog ‘must be strengthened further’
Shadow farm minister Huw Irranca-Davies has called for further amendments to ensure an effective supermarket watchdog oversees the relationship between retailers and suppliers.
Mr Irranca-Davies said he welcomed a government decision to grant the forthcoming groceries code adjudicator the power to fine supermarkets from day one. But further amendments would make a decent bill better – including the power to act as a watchdog across the entire supply chain.
“We know that very often the pressure on producers does not come directly from retailers with more than a billion-pound turnover – which is the focus of the bill as it stands – but with others in the supply chain,” Mr Irranca-Davies told Farmers Weekly.
It was also important to keep the code “live”, he added. “We want the adjudicator to be able to report back, openly and transparently, on whether the code is sufficient to tackle problems across the supply chain, including with intermediaries.”
Mr Irranca-Davies said the government would not have to blindly follow the adjudicator’s advice or recommendations, but it would be publicly accountable for any response or lack thereof. “If we believe in good, open government, then surely it’s a no-brainer,” he said.
“There is cross-party support for further improvement to this bill, and we can still – as we all want – get the adjudicator up and running in short order with all the powers it really needs: a watchdog with teeth, rather than a playful and docile puppy.”
The adjudicator is expected to be up and running early next year.
More details on the groceries code adjudicator