Chambers of Commerce seek abolition of Groceries Order

The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) has come out in support of calls for the abolition of the Groceries Order banning below-cost selling.

The measure was introduced in 1986 to prevent large supermarket chains from putting small retailers out of business.

Many CCI members support the move, but the organisation as a whole has called for its abolition, saying it does not achieve its aims.

CCI chief executive John Dunne said: "It actually creates and anti-competitive environment.

"It pushes prices up unnecessarily and it also almost encourages what we consider to be inappropriate accounting practices in terms of how discounts are handled in the accounts of retailers."