The resilience and weaknesses of the UK’s food supply chain are under scrutiny in a new inquiry launched by the House of Commons’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) select committee.
This cross-party initiative, titled Fairness in the Food Supply Chain, aims to address pressing issues impacting the sector.
A Comprehensive Review of Food Sector Challenges
Launched on 20 December, the inquiry will delve into critical topics such as support for domestic food production, accessibility to affordable and nutritious food, labour shortages, and the ongoing rise in food prices and household food insecurity.
The inquiry aligns with the Government’s December food security report, which revealed growing threats to the nation’s food resilience. The report also highlighted an alarming rise in households struggling to access healthy food.
MPs will call for evidence at various stages, tracking the Government’s progress on food security and its upcoming national food strategy, expected in 2025. The inquiry will build on the predecessor EFRA committee’s work, which investigated power imbalances in the food supply chain and concerns over whether farmgate prices adequately reflect rising production costs.
Chair’s Statement on Food Supply Vulnerabilities
EFRA Committee chair Alistair Carmichael MP expressed concern about the fragility of the UK’s food supply chain. “Our food supplies—both homegrown and imported—are vulnerable to external factors and are not always as secure as we might imagine, as the events of recent years have proven,” he said.
Carmichael continued, “Supermarkets have warned that the tax rises announced in the Budget will put pressure on prices. We also continue to see warnings about the impact of labour shortages in the supply chain.
“In this inquiry, our committee will investigate the breadth of issues facing the sector, including the interacting factors that affect the UK’s food supply chains. We will look at how the Government can ensure greater fairness and transparency in supply chains and promote food security both at a national and household level.”
Key Areas for Evidence
To guide its investigation, the committee has issued a call for updated or new evidence by Friday, 24 January 2025. Key topics for submission include:
The effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator in enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.
Potential benefits and drawbacks of expanding the scope of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.
Proposed reforms to the code, including lowering the turnover threshold for covered retailers.
Adequacy of reviews into contractual practices in agricultural sectors and the introduction of fair dealing powers under the Agriculture Act.
Risks and benefits of a sector-specific approach to fair dealing powers.
Opportunities for collaboration between the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator and the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
EFRA’s Role in Oversight
EFRA plays a pivotal role in holding the Government to account. While appointed by the House of Commons, it operates independently of the Government, tasked with scrutinising the expenditure, administration, and policy of Defra and its associated public bodies.
This inquiry underscores EFRA’s commitment to ensuring transparency, fairness, and resilience within the UK’s food supply chain during a time of heightened challenges for the sector.
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