Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1648.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the Unfair Trading Practices Office, the number of recommendations made and outstanding before the Agri-Food Regulator Office was established; if the outstanding recommendations can go to the Agri-Food Regulator Office to follow up on implementation and ensure said recommendations are implemented. [31879/24]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1653.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the output by the Office of the Agri-Food Regulator to date. [31884/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1648 and 1653 together.

I formally established An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) was established on 13th December 2023 following the enactment of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2023. This marked the end of a constructive legislative process which allowed for the passing of a bill that included very strong powers of enforcement and investigation for the Agri-Food Regulator.

The Agri-Food Regulator has taken over the enforcement functions in relation to unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain from the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority which was located in my Department. The Regulator also performs a price and market analysis function, aimed at ensuring more transparency and fairness throughout the agri-food supply chain, with a view to strengthening the position of smaller suppliers against larger buyers with greater bargaining power.

In respect of outputs, I have requested An Rialálaí Agraibhia to examine the request for information from the Deputy on outputs and to respond directly to the Deputy. However I am aware that the Regulator has published its Statement of Strategy for 2024-2026. The Regulator also completed its annual report for 2023 covering the two weeks that it was in operation for that year. Both documents have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and published on the Regulator’s website: www.agrifoodregulator.ie/corporate/publications/. I am aware also that An Rialálaí Agraibhia has been involved in capacity building since its establishment as a new State body.

An Rialálaí Agraibhia recently issued an update on their activities which the Deputy can find on the Agri Food Regulator website.

In respect of the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority (UTPEA) and any recommendations made and outstanding before establishment of An Rialálaí Agraibhia, the UTPEA operated under Directive (EU) No. 2019/633 and not the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023. The Directive refers to recommendations in the context of cooperation amongst EU UTP enforcement authorities and states in that context that the enforcement authorities may adopt recommendationsin order to encourage the consistent application of the Directive and to improve enforcement. 10 recommendations under four headings with regard to strengthening cooperation and mutual-assistance in cross-border enforcement against unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain were adopted by the Enforcement Authority Network in November 2023. Section 14(5)(b) of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 provides that the Agri-Food Regulator shall take action for the implementation of recommendations adopted in accordance with the Directive's provisions so that work will be continued by the Agri-Food Regulator. The Act also provides for the Regulator to make and publish recommendations at its own initiative on matters relating to the agricultural and food supply chain, policy matters or proposals for legislative change.