The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has failed to act on hundreds of complaints from farmers, but sprang into action as soon as Meat Industry Ireland wrote to them, IFA president Tim Cullinan said.

The IFA believe that correspondence released to The Currency News shows that the CCPC are dancing to the meat industry’s tune by trying to hinder any attempt to get a better return for the farmer.

Cullinan said: “It is extraordinary that despite what was going on at the time, and the volume of complaints made to the CCPC, they refused to use their considerable powers to carry out any type of investigative work to seek evidence of collusion.

“In fact, the CCPC only responded to farmer complaints when the IFA legal team wrote to them threatening legal action due to their failure to carry out their functions.”

Cartel evidence

Last month the IFA launched a campaign seeking “concrete evidence” of a beef cartel operating in Ireland in order to force an investigation by the competition watchdog into the sector.

The focus on keeping consumer prices down is putting undue pressure on all parts of the food chain

Cullinan continued: “It seems the CCPC is only interested in keeping prices to consumers low, and is ignoring their remit to enforce fair competition along the chain.

“The focus on keeping consumer prices down is putting undue pressure on all parts of the food chain. The Government must move to set up the office of the Food Ombudsman as committed to in the Programme for Government.”

Read more

CCPC’s refusal to investigate beef sector ‘crazy stuff’ – Carty

IFA seeking evidence of anti-competitive behaviour

Farmers feel let down by CCPC