Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2017
445. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the joint paper on the better functioning of the food supply chain from seven eastern European countries which was discussed at the recent EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in March 2017. [14908/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe joint paper from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia on the Better functioning of the food supply chain sets out proposals on progressing the Conclusions of the Council of Ministers last December, which envisaged a possible regulatory framework at EU level on unfair trading practices (UTPs). Ireland is broadly supportive of the proposals for an EU legislative framework.
Ireland is one of the Member States that has introduced legislation on unfair trading practices. Ireland (DJEI) introduced national regulation on unfair trading practices a year ago and RGGUs (Registered Grocery Goods Undertakings) with a worldwide turnover of over €50 million are due to submit their first annual compliance report by 31st March 2017. This will be a good opportunity for considering the effectiveness of the Regulations in their first year of operation and whether further measures would be useful. In our view a regulatory framework at EU level would contribute to better functioning of the food supply chain and the Single Market. Some Member States, however, have a preference for their national voluntary systems.
