Local farmers taking part in Drymen Agricultural Show.
By Bill Heaney
Westminster MP, Alistair Carmichael, will announce plans to introduce the Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill in Parliament on Wednesday 19th March. The Bill is intended to introduce a range of provisions to get fairer prices for farmers and food producers across the UK, including strengthening the Groceries Code Adjudicator in terms of remit and resources, supporting greater public procurement of locally produced food, and enhanced origin labelling requirements.
Mr Carmichael will introduce the Bill to the House of Commons with a ten minute speech on Wednesday 19th March, following Prime Minister’s Question Time.
The Bill has been developed in discussion with farming and rural organisations including the National Farmers’ Union, the Country Land and Business Association, the Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Countryside Alliance and Scottish Land and Estates.
The Bill also fulfils Mr Carmichael’s commitment, made during the General Election last year, to reintroduce legislation to boost the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, which is currently holding an inquiry on “fairness in the food supply chain”.
Mr Carmichael said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to introduce this Bill and to have dedicated time in the House to make the case for it. It was a major plank of my election campaign last year to reintroduce legislation which would beef up the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator and other regulatory bodies, in support of fairness for farmers and food producers – so I am glad to be able to deliver on that promise with this Bill.
“This is about supporting local farmers but it is also ultimately about supporting UK consumers too. The supermarkets have taken advantage of their market dominance for too long, and that is not working for anyone but them. If we want strong and vibrant rural communities in this country then we need a fair deal and fair prices for farmers and food producers.
“I know from discussions that this is a matter of significant interest for the farming unions and other rural organisations, and I have been glad to have their advice and support in developing this Bill. The Groceries Code Adjudicator was an important step forward when my party created it in government, but it has not achieved everything that we wanted it to in terms of protecting food producers and consumers.
“This is an opportunity for a fairer deal where it really matters to our communities – I hope that the government will engage with this Bill constructively to deliver on these goals.”
Full short and long title of Bill: Food Products (Market Regulation and Public Procurement) Bill is a Bill to make provision about the Groceries Code Adjudicator; to require coordination between the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator; to make provision about public procurement in respect of British food products; to make provision about the labelling of food products; and for connected purposes.
Various rural organisations have backed the Bill, including the National Farmers’ Union, NFU Scotland, the Countryside Alliance and Scottish Land & Estates. You can read their comments of support for the Bill below.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The NFU fully supports the introduction of a Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill and is grateful to Alistair Carmichael for putting this important issue on the agenda.
“We have lobbied for some time on the need to see fairness and transparency across the agri-food supply chain in order to provide opportunities for all farming businesses whatever their size. Strengthening farmers’ position means making our food system more resilient and provides a trading environment that remains competitive and innovative. This should include strong working relationships between retailers and suppliers which are built on trust and a supportive legislative framework including trade policy which doesn’t undermine us.”
Andrew Connon, President NFU Scotland said:“We fully support Alistair Carmichael’s Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill. The measures are vital for the future prosperity of agriculture and would ensure a stronger position and level playing field for our primary producers which we very much welcome. NFU Scotland encourages MPs from all parties to support this Bill that will help farmers, crofters and consumers alike.”
David Bean, Parliament and Government Relation Manager of the Countryside Alliance, said: “Food and farming are the bedrock of Britain’s rural economy, and safeguarding our food supply by ensuring they remain profitable is a matter of vital national interest.
“The Countryside Alliance was delighted to work with Mr Carmichael and others to shape a Bill that will help do just that. Strengthening the Groceries Code Adjudicator, improving labelling so customers can make better-informed decisions and ensuring the public sector procures more British and local food offers a lifeline to this essential sector.
“We urge MPs to get on board and back the Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill.”
Cameron Gillies, Press & Public Affairs Manager at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Beyond delivering food security for the UK, food producers are at the heart of our rural communities and play a leading role in efforts to tackle climate change, restore nature and drive the rural economy forward.
“In the backdrop of the significant challenges they are facing here in Scotland and across the UK, the proposed Food Products (Market Regulation and Public Procurement) Bill offers a glimmer of hope and some enormously welcome good news for the sector.
“Fairness in the food supply chain from gate to plate is integral to the sustainability of farming businesses. Placing this on a statutory footing is a welcome step towards achieving this.
“The Bill also offers a fantastic opportunity to leverage public funding earmarked for supplying schools, hospitals and local authority cafeterias to support local farmers, with high quality, homegrown food being served in public places through updated local procurement guidelines. This would be a win for local authorities and local businesses, for the benefit of local communities.”
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said: “The CLA supports the introduction of the Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill. We believe the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) needs to be strengthened to make the supply chain fairer for farmers and rural businesses.
“We encourage MPs from all parties to support the Bill, as Britain’s supply chain continues to be heavily weighted in favour of the retail sector.”
Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) Chief Executive George Dunn said: “The TFA is extremely grateful to Alistair Carmichael and the Liberal Democrats for choosing food supply chain fairness as the focus of their forthcoming 10 Minute Rule Bill within Parliament.
“Whilst there is much talk in government about food security, driving fair returns to primary producers and ensuring a farm to fork approach, the reality falls a long way short of the rhetoric. Whilst the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is doing some good work in regulating the relationship between the biggest retailers and their suppliers, it could do much more with a wider remit and more powers particularly around investigation.
“There is also a clear need to bring more retailers into the scope of the GCA. However, one of the biggest failings of the current regulatory system is the lack of a joined-up farm to fork approach. The GCA has no remit for the relationships between primary producers and the processors who buy their products to sell on to the retail sector. Whilst DEFRA is in the throes of creating separate supply chain codes of practice and appointing supply chain adjudicators, there is no clarity about how those codes and roles should work with the GCA.
“Mr Carmichael’s Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill addresses those concerns head on and the TFA is pleased to give it our full support”.
Top picture: A farmer working in the fields at Glen Fruin between Helensburgh and Loch Lomond. Picture by Bill Heaney