Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the consultations he has had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the proposed introduction of a statutory code for the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3731/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment consulted closely with my Department in preparing the consultation paper for the public consultation process that has now taken place. The next step will be to draft a code of practice and my Department will liaise closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on this.

The EU Commission has also issued a Communication on a better functioning food supply chain in Europe. As I said at the recent Council of Minister's meeting, I believe there is also a need to look critically at EU competition law (or its interpretation) in so far as it can serve to militate against consolidation at producer level to achieve the scale necessary for optimum efficiency and international competitiveness. There is a need also to audit unfair contractual practices with a view to ensuring compliance with competition law. I am very pleased that the Spanish Presidency had committed itself to progressing the whole issue of improving the functioning of the food chain. There is a need for considerable improvement so that all players, including producers and consumers, receive fair treatment.