The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) Richard Thompson has launched a survey to assess the current state of the UK milk sector, with dairy farmers and processors being encouraged to voice their opinion.
As the ASCA for the UK, Thompson’s role is to “promote fairness, transparency and good practice across agricultural supply chains, including the milk sector”.
The ASCA position was established under the Agricultural Act 2020. The current ASCA is responsible for enforcing the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) regulations 2024.
Thompson noted that these regulations do not set milk prices, which he said are, and will continue to, be determined by global and local supply and demand.
However, he highlighted that regulations do require milk purchasers to apply price changes fairly, transparently, and in line with their contracts.
Survey
Serving as an impartial point of contact for anyone who has concerns about their milk contracts, the ASCA is inviting dairy farmers to share their views in the survey, which will help build the adjudicator’s understanding of how the UK milk sector is responding to trends.
Thompson outlined that the survey asks questions about the regulations, the role of the ASCA, and how relationships between producers and purchasers have worked during this “challenging period”.
He added that this the feedback will help him and his colleagues to better understand what is working well and where the regulations may need further support or attention.
The survey takes roughly 10 minutes to complete, according to the adjudicator, with the submissions set to close on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Dairy farmers and processors can take part in the survey on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra‘s) blog.
ASCA
While anyone can contact the ASCA about milk contract concerns, Thompson also pointed out that dairy sector stakeholders can contact him confidentially by using the ‘in confidence’ email.
He noted that that information provided in confidence will help the adjudicator’s work and highlight potential issues in the sector; however, the ASCA added that no investigations can be opened under the regulation without a formal complaint.
Individuals in the dairy sector can find details on the address for confidential emails on Defra’s blog.
