Copa push for action on retail

Farmers have welcomed a European Parliament vote backing a report on limitations of the voluntary EU Supply Chain Initiative, wherein complaints can’t be lodged confidentially and which has no penalties for non-compliance.

IFA president, Joe Healy, chaired a food-chain meeting in Brussels of the EU farmer body Copa, whose members hope that the EU vote in favour of Polish MEP Edward Czesak’s food chain report will lead to more EU action to tackle unfair trading practices in the food supply chain.

Mr Healy said Copa will input to agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan’s agricultural markets task- force, whose recommendations are due in the autumn.