Food Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (2171)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

2171. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress being made with the establishment of a food ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41872/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In April 2021, I signed the Statutory Instrument transposing the Unfair Trading Practices Directive directly into Irish law.

At that time, I also established the UTP Enforcement Authority in my Department on an interim basis. It is currently operating with all necessary legal powers, including to investigate complaints from suppliers of agricultural and food products and to initiate legal proceedings for breaches of unfair trading practices defined in the UTP Directive.

The Enforcement Authority has been engaging with buyers of agricultural and food products to ensure compliance with the UTP Regulations and with suppliers to make them aware of the protections provided to them in the Regulations.

I would encourage any supplier or buyer of agri-food products to familiarise themselves with their rights and obligations under the Regulations via the Enforcement Authority’s website: www.utp.gov.ie.

The drafting of primary legislation, which is required to establish the new independent statutory body to deal with fairness and transparency in the agri food sector, has been progressing.

In March this year, the Heads of the Agri-Food Bill 2022 were approved by Government. The Heads of the Bill were published on my Department’s website and were submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine for pre-legislative scrutiny. In June, I met with the Joint Committee to discuss the draft Bill, and I look forward to receiving the Committee's report as soon as possible.

I am confident that the new Office will help strengthen the position of our farmers, fishers, and other suppliers of agricultural and food products. It is my intention to present the final draft of the Bill to the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible.