Mr Chadwick said the GCA is “highly regarded among farmers and the rest of the industry” but farmers have told him they feel it “doesn’t have all the powers it needs to fully level the playing field.”.
He added: “It is also positive to see that amongst suppliers there is a high level of awareness of the GCA and the code itself although I did note that (Mr Chadwick) said there was a question about awareness for some farmers, that’s something I’m happy to explore further with him.
Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick (Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe) said the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) should have more remit to ensure a “fair market” for farmers.
He added: “The GCA must give farmers the confidence to report issues and to know that those issues are handled confidentially, especially as many farmers feel they might be punished or blacklisted for making complaints.”.
He added: “It’s my belief, and the belief of many farmers and producers I represent, that the Groceries Code Adjudicator needs to be strengthened, better resourced and its remit expanded if we are to ensure fairness in our supply chain.”.
