Draft regulations aimed at giving supermarket suppliers enhanced negotiating powers have been published.

The draft so-called “code of conduct” for grocery retailers includes the:

  • Requirement for grocery goods contracts to be in writing
  • Requirement for good faith, transparency, openness and fairness in grocery goods dealings
  • Restrictions on unlilateral changes to grocery goods contracts
  • Restrictions on payment for shelf space, marketing costs, advertising costs, wastage, shrinkage
  • Requirement for records to be retained for inspection and regular compliance statements to be made
  • They regulations are being issued for consultation and submissions are being sought from interested parties before 27th February 2015.

    Announcing the draft regulations Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said: “Relationships will continue to be based on commerce and prices will continue to be set by hard negotiations – this is in the interests of consumers. However new legal provisions will require that in future, contracts must be in writing, certain terms must be included, records must be retained for inspection and a compliance statement must be made. These measures together with strong enforcement powers will ensure that these relationships are fair and sustainable.

    “I look forward to hearing feedback from all stakeholders in this area

    before making decisions on the final regulations for implementation during

    2015”.