There is less than one week left to submit evidence to the Competition Commission’s (CC) supermarket enquiry, and NFU Scotland is urging anyone with concerns over the power of supermarkets, or with evidence of it misuse, to step forward.
NFUS will be submitting its own response on behalf of its members
But the union is encouraging individual farmers or anyone else who has views on the issue to write to the CC and submit their own evidence.
The CC will consider any request for anonymity from those making claims.
The deadline for submitting evidence is June 7.
Andy Robertson, chief executive of the NFUS, said: “We’ve fought hard to get this enquiry so it is vital that the industry uses the opportunity to raise its concerns.
“We will be sending in our own detailed evidence, but this is an opportunity for individual producers on the ground to raise concerns they may personally have. Irrespective of whether farmers have direct experience of dealing with supermarkets, this whole issue is critical to the future of the farm businesses.
“We know that the climate of fear within which too many supermarket suppliers operate limits the amount of hard evidence that will be submitted now, despite the CC’s willingness to consider anonymity.
“NFUS has been a mouthpiece for these companies up to now. They are understandably scared of the consequences of speaking out themselves.
“However, for this enquiry to get a full grasp of the issues, that must change. We will be impressing on the CC the need to have closed hearings with full protection for witnesses.
“In the meantime though, farmers, most of whom are one removed from supermarket dealings, have a real opportunity to air their concerns.”
Evidence should be submitted to The Enquiry Secretary, Grocery Market Enquiry, Competition Commission, Victoria House, Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4AD or groceries@cc.gsi.gov.uk.
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