Hogan vows to seek fairness in supply chain costs

Farmers can expect the EU to take a more active role in seeking greater fairness in supply chain costs, said Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan.

Addressing the IFA’s 60th anniversary celebrations in Dublin, Mr Hogan questioned why Irish fertiliser prices are expected to rise 7% in 2015, despite crude oil prices having fallen by 45% since last June.

“I am not happy about this,” he said. “I will raise this with my colleague, the commissioner for competition, Margrethe Vestager, who will not hesitate to investigate any instances of potential activity which breaches competition rules. It is important that input costs reduce in line with the general fall in energy prices.”