Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 February 2019
165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the finalisation of the unfair trading practices directive at EU level; his plans to transpose the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5926/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Parliament and the Council reached a final agreement, ad referendum, on the text of a Directive, which was presented to the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) on 14th January, in relation to Unfair Trading Practices in business-to-business relationships in the food supply chain.
Currently, Member States are being asked to review the text one final time, in order to provide linguistic comments only. The next meeting will take place in Brussels on 19th February 2019, after which, a final text will be produced and presented by the Presidency to the SCA for approval. It will then be presented to the European Parliament to be agreed in Plenary session.
Once approved by the European Parliament, the Directive must be transposed into national legislation by Member States within 24 months.
My colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and I have agreed to establish a joint Working Group to progress the transposition of the Directive, having regard to implications for the existing Grocery Goods Undertakings Regulations 2016, which fall under the remit of her Department.
