Press release
Seminar on Unfair Trading Practices Directive and establishing a National Food Ombudsman / Regulator
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The UK’s first-ever Groceries Code Adjudicator, Christine Tacon CBE will address an information webinar on the Unfair Trading Practices Directive regulations and the establishment of a new National Food Ombudsman (NFO) / Regulator office.
This coming Friday, 25th June the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will host a public information seminar on the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Regulations and the recent public consultation on the new office of the NFO Regulator.
The seminar will take place virtually via Webex from 10am to 11.30 am, and registration is available on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/information-webinar-on-utp-regulations-national-food-ombudsmanregulator-tickets-158097496869
The webinar comes on the back of a national public consultation into forming the office of the NFO / Regulator which had a tremendous response.
A short overview of views submitted through the public consultation on the establishment of the new Office of the National Food Ombudsman/Regulator or equivalent will be presented and the seminar will also include a presentation by the UK’s first-ever Groceries Code Adjudicator, Christine Tacon CBE.
Speaking ahead of the event, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD said:
“I am delighted that Christine Tacon, the former UK Groceries Code Adjudicator, has agreed to speak at the seminar and I look forward to hearing about her experience in that role. Ms Tacon is very well respected, not only for her role as Groceries Code Adjudicator, but for other work she has done for the agriculture and food sector.
“I am committed to delivering a National Food Ombudsman / Regulator that will have real teeth and powers. The office was a key commitment in the Programme for Government as we want to deliver an office that will serve all elements of the supply chain in delivering greater transparency.
“It is my ambition that the Office will be one that will bring transparency to all sectors. It is my view that the food chain needs to have greater transparency in order to give our primary producers and farmers the most reassurance that they are being rewarded for the hard work they do in creating top-class, sustainable and safe food.”
The office of the Ombudsman / Regulator will also act in enforcing the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) directive. Those found in breach of the UTP face a fine of up to €500,000 or up to a three-year prison sentence
Note for Editors
1. Minister Mc Conalogue signed the Statutory Instrument to transpose the Unfair Trading Practices Directive into Irish law in late April 2021.
2. The Regulations will have effect from 1 July 2021 for new contracts. Contracts between suppliers and buyers agreed after 28th April 2021 will have one year to be made compliant, i.e. by 28th April 2022.
3. The establishment of the Office of National Food Ombudsman /Regulator or equivalent Office is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. The new authority will enforce the EU-wide rules on prohibited unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain and will also have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.
This seminar follows the recent conclusion of a public consultation on the functions to be assigned to the new office. The outcome of the consultation will help to determine the principles and policies to be included in the new primary legislation to establish the office and to decide on what further powers or functions may be assigned.
ENDS