Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has announced plans to introduce the Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill in parliament on Wednesday, March 19.
The Bill is intended to introduce a range of provisions to get fairer prices for farmers and food producers across the UK.
It includes strengthening the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) in terms of remit and resources, supporting greater public procurement of locally produced food, and enhanced origin labelling requirements.
The MP said the legislation had been developed in discussion with farming and rural organisations including the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the Country Land and Business Association (CLBA), the Tenant Farmers’ Association (TFA), the Countryside Alliance (CA), and Scottish Land and Estates (SLE).
Carmichael said the bill will fulfil a commitment he made during the general election last year to reintroduce legislation to increase the powers of the GCA.
Carmichael is chair of the House of Commons environment, food and rural affairs select committee, which is currently holding an inquiry on “fairness in the food supply chain”.
The Liberal Democrat MP said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to introduce this bill and to have dedicated time in the house to make the case for it.
“It was a major plank of my election campaign last year to reintroduce legislation which would beef up the role of the GCA and other regulatory bodies, in support of fairness for farmers and food producers – so I am glad to be able to deliver on that promise with this bill.
“This is about supporting local farmers but it is also ultimately about supporting UK consumers too. The supermarkets have taken advantage of their market dominance for too long, and that is not working for anyone but them.
“If we want strong and vibrant rural communities in this country then we need a fair deal and fair prices for farmers and food producers,” he added.
Chief executive of the TFA, George Dunn said: “Whilst there is much talk in government about food security, driving fair returns to primary producers and ensuring a farm to fork approach, the reality falls a long way short of the rhetoric.
“Whilst the GCA is doing some good work in regulating the relationship between the biggest retailers and their suppliers, it could do much more with a wider remit and more powers particularly around investigation,” he said.
