The Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987 was made under the Restrictive Practices Acts to regulate competition in the groceries sector. The order bans the selling, or advertising for sale, of grocery goods below cost with the exception of certain specified goods including perishable foodstuffs such as fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. It also prohibits such practices as "hello money", boycotting and sets out provisions for controls on terms and conditions of supply. The order is enforced by the Director of Consumer Affairs. The groceries order was last reviewed in February 1995, after which the then Minister announced his intention to retain the order for a further two years. The order is, among other matters, currently being reviewed by the Competition and Mergers Review Group established in September 1996. In this regard, my Department received a copy of the submissions made to the review group by the IFA and An Bord Glas regarding the provisions of the groceries order.
The review group will be reporting to me in 1998. I do not intend to make any decision in regard to the further order until I have considered the report and recommendations of the review group in regard to this and other matters on which they are currently deliberating.
