DAERA urges fruit and veg sector to take part in UK-wide supply chain consultation

DAERA is encouraging fruit and vegetable growers and all stakeholders across Northern Ireland with a link to the fresh produce sector to take part in a consultation on transparency and fairness in the supply chain.

Defra has launched the UK-wide consultation on contractual relationships in the UK fresh produce industry and local stakeholders are being encouraged by DAERA to take this opportunity to highlight any specific issues or concerns they might have about how NI supply chains operate.

The consultation will gather evidence about how supply chain arrangements in the edible fresh produce industry within the horticulture sector currently function and the nature of the relationships between the various parties. It will also seek views on whether the functioning of the supply chain can be improved. 

DAERA will work closely with officials in Defra, Scotland and Wales to consider the responses received and will seek to ensure that any solutions proposed by the UK Government to any issues identified take account of the views of local stakeholders and those of incoming Northern Ireland Ministers.

Details of how to respond are included in the consultation document: Contractual relationships in the UK fresh produce industry - Defra - Citizen Space.

Notes to editors: 

1. The consultation is available at: Contractual relationships in the UK fresh produce industry - Defra - Citizen Space.
2. Responses must be submitted by 22 February 2024.
3. Defra has powers under section 29 of the Agriculture Act 2020 to regulate contractual relationships in agricultural sectoral supply chains. This is the fourth UK-wide consultation on sectoral supply chain relationships. Consultations on the dairy and pig sectors were held in 2020 and 2022 and a consultation on the egg sector is due to close on 22 December 2023.
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5. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office at: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk
6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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