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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the Office of Fair Trading regarding the code of conduct for multiple retailers on the treatment of primary producers; and if she will make a statement. [223234] Alun Michael: Responsibility for the Supermarkets' code of practice rests with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). However, as Defra is sponsor Department for the farming and food industries we have discussed the subject of the code with the OFT as and when the need has arisen. The OFT has recently published the findings of an audit of the code, together with a paper that considers the implications of those findings and invites comments and evidence on a number of issues arising from them. These documents can be found on the OFT's website at http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press+releases/2005/52- 05.htm. We encourage all those who have views on the issues in question to respond to the OFT's invitation to comment. The OFT's paper also makes reference to a proposal for a new voluntary code, known as the Buyers Charter, that is being developed by the National Farmers Union (NFU) in consultation with other industry bodies. We welcome this initiative and have encouraged all sections of the food chain, whether they be retailers, processors or manufacturers, to work positively with the NFU to develop the proposal.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1367W;432 c1363W; 223234

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Codes of practice Farmers Prices Supermarkets

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk