A significant rise in the number of farmers contacting the Agri-Food Regulator about unfair trading practices they have experienced was seen following its first prosecution last year.

Speaking on the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the Ploughing, chair of the Agri-Food Regulator Joe Healy said farmers’ recognition of what the regulator does is growing.

“We had our first case for unfair trading practices less than a year ago and following on from that, we’ve had huge farmer engagement and a huge increase in farmers that were in a similar situation [that contacted the Regulator]."

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A civil case was brought by the Agri-Food Regulator following a complaint by west of Ireland farmer Pat McGrath.

At Ennis District Court in November 2024, Judge Alec Gabbett convicted Shannon-based Asba Meats Ltd over the non-payment of €10,059 for cattle delivered to the slaughter plant by the farmer.

The case was the first conviction for a breach of unfair trading practices regulations.

On additional powers that have been requested from the Government by the Agri-Food Regulator, Healy said he is “confident that progress has been made in the right direction”.

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Discussing his other brief as an Irish representative on the European economic and social committee, Healy strongly criticised European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on her Mercosur trade deal track record.

“First of all, it’s unfortunate that food and agriculture only seems to come to the top of the agenda when there’s a crisis – when there’s COVID or when there’s a weather crisis or a geopolitical crisis.

“I’d be disappointed with our president of the EU and her attitude towards agriculture. I think she talks the talk, but I’m not so sure she walks the walk.

“Last November at the COP talks, the Argentinian government withdrew their negotiators. And on 5 December, president Von der Leyon went to Montevideo to sign off on the Mercosur trade deal.

“In my eyes, that is the height of hypocrisy, because she’s in Brussels promoting the green deal, getting farmers and food producers to produce to the highest standards of anywhere in the world, and then she goes across the world to sign off on a trade deal, where we have seen over the years that shows scant regard for the environment or animal identification or for food traceability or standards,” he added.