Fair Trade campaigners celebrate in Parliament

West Cornwall MP, Andrew George, hosted a Reception in the House of Commons this afternoon, Tuesday 9th July, to celebrate the recent launch of the new Supermarket Watchdog – the Grocery Code Adjudicator – established on 25th June.

Mr George has chaired the Grocery Market Action Group (GMAG) since 2006. GMAG includes representatives from many voluntary and representative bodies including the National Farmers Union, Friends of the Earth, ActionAid, Traidcraft, the British Independent Fruit Growers Association and many others.  GMAG came together to press the case for greater protection for farmers, growers and other suppliers from increasingly powerful supermarkets – who could dictate market conditions and place suppliers under unfair trading pressure.

The recently appointed supermarket watchdog – Grocery Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon – and Competition Minister Jo Swinson MP were present.

Mr George said:  “Many people have put a tremendous effort into the campaign for fair trading in the grocery supply chain.  The Competition Commission undertook an excellent Inquiry, which finally persuaded Governments to act.

“We are entitled to celebrate this significant campaign success and to express our delight that the Watchdog is now in place.  If the big supermarkets have nothing to hide then they have nothing to fear from this new post.”

 

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