Responsibility for the UK’s Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) will soon move to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of a departmental transfer, which aims to “strengthen fairness across the food supply chain and better support farmers.”
This announcement was made today (Tuesday, April 7) by Defra, with the department revealing that the GCA will be transferring from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on July 1.
GCA’s departure from DBT will move the adjudicator’s sponsorship under Defra, which will the department said will “align the regulator’s work with the department’s wider role.”
This news follows up on a key recommendation from Baroness Minette Batters’ Farming Profitability Review, where she suggested to streamline oversight of the grocery supply chain and strengthen links to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).
Defra
Speaking on today’s announcement, Defra Minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “We are backing our farmers by creating a level playing right across the supply chain to ensure productive and profitable businesses can flourish.
“Moving responsibility for the Groceries Code Adjudicator to Defra will support a more joined-up approach to fairness across the food supply chain, while fully protecting its independence and statutory role.”
The current GCA Mark White is set to remain in his role one the departmental transfer takes place.
White commented: “I am looking forward to working more closely with Defra to continue to ensure fair treatment of direct suppliers to the designated retailers.”
GCA
According to Defra, the GCA regulates the relationship between the UK’s largest grocery retailers and their direct suppliers by “encouraging, monitoring and enforcing compliance” with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.
The department stated that the GCA will remain “fully independent”, with no changes to its statutory role or enforcement powers.
Defra added that further detail on implementation will be set out by the July transfer date.