The Grocery Code Adjudicator Bill

Type of practice Reduce

Name of practice The Grocery Code Adjudicator Bill

Name of main actor UK Parliament

Type of actor(s) Public authority

Location United Kingdom

Stage of implementation Farm, Processing, Retail

Year of implementation 2012

What was/is being done? The Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, which passed in the UK Parliament in late 2012, creates a new regulator linked to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), whose duty is to ensure that the statutory Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) is adhered to properly. The GSCOP was created by the UK Competition Commission to ensure fair dealing between large supermarkets and their suppliers. In particular, the Code aims to protect farmers, including indirect suppliers in developing countries, from unfair trading practices of large retail buyers, including protecting them from having to bear the unpredictable costs of waste caused by supermarket buying policies, such as last minute cancellation of forecast orders. The Adjudicator will have the power to name and shame and, in some cases, fine retailers whose policies are in breach of the GSCOP.

Outcomes and impacts Not available yet