Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan and Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager appeared at the agriculture committee’s debate in the European Parliament this week and addressed the issue of next steps on the taskforce’s report on unfair trading practices (UTPs) and fairness in the supply chain.

They announced that the Commission was moving on the next stage to “carry out an impact assessment and consider all viable options that promise improvements over the current status quo”.

Commissioner Hogan told the committee that they would come forward with their results in the first half of 2018 and the process would begin with the publication of an inception impact assessment, which would set out the options and invite feedback from stakeholders.

This was welcomed by MEP Mairead McGuinness, who secured a massive vote in support of action on UTPs in parliament last year. Joe Healy, IFA president, also welcomed the initiative, and told the Irish Farmers Journal: “This initiative is another important step in bringing more balance to the food chain and must have a practical impact for farmers.”

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Progress on unfair trading practices

Following the taskforce report late last year, commissioners Hogan and Vestager told the parliament's agriculture committee of their intention to progress it this week.