Charlie McConalogue

The government has committed to establishing a new authority to enforce EU-wide rules on prohibited unfair trading practices in the food supply chain.

The Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive must be transposed into Irish law by 1 May 2021 and was subject to a previous public consultation in 2019.

An enforcement authority will established on an interim basis before its functions are transferred to the proposed new ombudsman or regulator, which will also have additional functions like analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.

The primary legislation to establish the ombudsman or regulator may also introduce additional rules going further than those in the EU directive.

Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue said: “I am fully committed to ensuring fairness, equity and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain. The establishment of the new office is an important step towards achieving that.

“The outcome of this consultation will help to determine the principles and policies to be included in the new legislation and the powers to be assigned to the new office. I encourage all stakeholders to participate in the consultation to help define the future role of the new office.”

The consultation will run until Wednesday 26 May 2021.