Retailers have 'key role to ensure fairness'

Supermarkets and other retailers must honour promises to purchase high welfare pigmeat from British producers, says the National Pig Association.

NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson says Defra's committed to develop and collect more supply chain data will help producers better understand the market for pigmeat and forecast how much is needed more accurately.

“We have lost almost one-fifth of our pig breeding capacity as a result of two years of crisis. Pig prices might be rising, but pig producers are still hurting badly, with huge financial holes to fill, and confidence remains low.”

Ms Wilson says she is pleased with the pace Defra has worked to so far –and is keen that the policy remains a priority. Defra has also committed to working with the industry on the next phase of policy development – fully engaging with the NPA.

“The bottom line is that, while legislative changes can set the framework for reform between the producer and whoever they have their contract with, real change must also come from within the supply chain.”

Ms Wilson says retailers have a key part to play and adds that the government alludes to the need for change with its commitment to share their findings with the Competition and Markets Authority.

“That will only change if pig farmers can see that retailers and processors have got the message that fundamental reform is needed if we are to secure supplies of high welfare, environmentally friendly assured Red Tractor British pork.” help market reporting services better reflect the entire UK market – helping to further reduce ambiguity for everyone in the pig sector.

Clear message

The National Pig Association welcomed the commitments, saying the government had addressed most of its key demands. But it said wider issues further up the supply chain – including the actions of retailers – must also be addressed.

NPA chairman and Norfolk pig producer Rob Mutimer said: “We are very pleased that Defra has taken on board the very clear messages from the NPA and the wider industry about what needs to be done to fix our broken supply chain.

“For too long, producers have been treated poorly and contracts have not been worth the paper they were written on – and we have seen some disastrous consequences of that behaviour over the past two years.

“We believe the measures set out today, including legal underpinning for contracts that delivers a fair transparent and negotiable contract system, will help deliver a fairer and more sustainable environment for pig producers.”

Defra insists it sees a bright future for British pig producers

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