The Agri-Food Regulator (An Rialálaí Agraibhia) has welcomed a commitment in the draft programme for government to strengthen its powers.
The document, published on (Wednesday, January 15), states that the new government will give the regulator “enhanced powers to ensuring transparency in the food supply chain with regard to providing market information”.
In a statement to Agriland, the regulator said that it “considers that these additional powers are essential to allow it fulfil its functions of addressing the lack of transparency and information asymmetry as envisaged under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain 2023 Act”.
Agri-Food Regulator
In September, the Agri-Food Regulator wrote to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, in order to seek additional powers when requesting information.
Chair of the board of the Agri-Food Regulator, Joe Healy said that despite efforts, some retailers were “not engaging” with the board.
Healy said the additional powers would allow the regulator to compel the provision of necessary price and market information from relevant businesses in the agri-food supply chain.
This followed engagement by the regulator with the relevant businesses in the egg supply chain to request data impacting upon price and margins.
It was intended that using the data supplied, and supplemented by publicly available information, the regulator would produce a report about price and market data across the egg supply chain.
Healy said that the board had “good success” with the egg packers and food wholesalers, but that only half of the retailers responded to the requests. This meant that the “egg report had to be based on publicly available information”.
“For other reports to carry credibility, we need that extra power that whoever we seek information off, they will be compelled to give it to us,” Healy said.
The minister was also asked to introduce additional regulations which would allow the regulator to compel the provision of price and market information from all businesses in the agri-food supply chain.
Programme for government
The draft programme for government, which runs to over 150 pages, was published after Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agreed to form the next government, with support from a number of independent TDs.
The draft will now be the subject of approval by the party memberships over the coming days.
This will then clear the way for the nomination of a Taoiseach when the Dáil returns on January 22 and the formation of the 35th government of Ireland.