Euro-MP renews call for Office of Fair Trading to stand up to Supermarkets
September 20, 2004 9:00 PM
West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne chaired the NFU fringe meeting at the
Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth tonight, giving members the
opportunity to express their on a wide range of issues affecting
agriculture.
The panel discussion included Andrew George MP and Sue Miller, the Liberal
Democrat spokesperson on Food and Rural Affairs in the House of Commons
and Lords respectively. Joining them was the Deputy President of NFU
Peter Kendall.
Speaking following the meeting, the Liberal Democrat MEP said:
"Liberal Democrats very much support the interests of rural communities,
family farms and the rural environment. Having represented West Midlands
farmers in the European Parliament for the last 5 years I am very much
aware of the problems they have.
"I continue to argue in the European Parliament that existing legislation
should be implemented equally across the EU, to create a level playing
field for our farmers and that any new legislation passed at EU level is
subject to full comprehensive impact assessments.
"At long last we have movement on CAP reform in the European Parliament
but
farmers are continuing to have a difficult time.
"Supermarkets are now so powerful they can dictate market conditions for
British farmers. It is clear the Government can no longer sit on its
hands. Food supply chain relationships need rebalancing, the Supermarket
Code must be strengthened and the Office of Fair Trading must get tough
and support farmers who are being ripped off.
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