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Written question asked by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party) on Friday, 14 November 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 28 November 2025. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Monday, 24 November 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Milk: Contracts

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government how many cases have been brought to the Agriculture Supply Chain Adjudicator under the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024; what was the nature of the code breaches alleged; and what were the outcomes of the cases.

Answer

As of 17 November 2025, the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) has received 1 formal complaint relating to areas of a milk purchase contract that was alleged to be not compliant with the requirements of the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024. ASCA led an informal resolution which was fully agreed between the complainant and the processor resulting in an amended milk purchase contract being provided to the producer. No formal intervention was required from the ASCA as the complaint was withdrawn by the producer.

The ‘in confidence’ ASCA email channel was established to ensure producers could raise issues to the ASCA without fear of identification or reprisal. This was identified as a key barrier for producers to raise their concerns in an earlier ASCA survey. No formal complaints have been raised via this channel, but the ASCA has received over 15 separate issues in confidence. The confidential feedback has been used by ASCA to raise specific and anonymised issues with industry where possible.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL11942
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Contracts Codes of practice Milk Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator
Legislation
Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk