EU boost for farmers fighting Unfair Trading Practices
Agri MEP Alyn Smith has today welcomed the European Parliament’s bold adoption of a report that will dramatically reduce the impact of Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs) on farmers.
Read moreTime to tackle fake farm branding
Alyn Smith MEP has challenged the European Commission to take on the rise of fictional farms as a brand tool, joining SNP Councillor Gail Ross in the fight to support farmers against supermarket chicanery.
Read moreAlyn slams EU 'indecision by committee' as farmers face further waits
Alyn Smith MEP has slammed the decision to create a new forum – the Agricultural Markets Task Force – to discuss supply chain issues as the latest in a long line of delays that farmers cannot afford.
Read moreTesco guilty of breaching Groceries Code
Supermarket giant Tesco has been found guilty of breaching the Groceries Supply Code by intentionally delaying payments to suppliers, according to the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).
Read moreScotland’s first Dairy Producer Organisation “first step to save the Dairy Industry” says MEP
Alyn Smith MEP has thrown his support behind Scotland’s first Dairy Producer Organisation, hailing it as a vital first step in saving Scotland’s dairy industry.
Read moreUnfair Trading Practices: Europe Moves to Protect Farmers
In a move backed by MEPs and the NFU alike, the European Parliament voted today to adopt the McGuinness report on Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs) in the food supply chain.
Read more'Our farmers need legal protection against unfair trading practices’ says Alyn
Scotland’s farmers gained significant support yesterday as Alyn Smith MEP won strong backing from Agriculture MEPs for tough legislative action against Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs).
Read moreAlyn backs NFU Scotland in Tesco labelling row
Supermarket giant Tesco has delivered a stinging blow to Scotland’s farmers by selling imported lamb beneath a banner proclaiming support for Scottish sheep farmers.
Read moreProducer Organisations may save our dairy farmers
This week saw the release of the official figures on the impact of the Russian imports ban, and they make for grim reading. The sharpest drops in EU value are fruit, vegetables, and dairy products; cheese is down 19.4%, with butter faring slightly better at 9.5%.
It’s another blow to dairy farmers, as if the need for last month’s special hearing on prospects for the dairy sector didn’t already show that shady practices and difficult market conditions aren’t confined to Scotland.
Published in the Caithness Courier 11 February 2015
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