Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. June 2025
    2. 2025 Innovation supplement
    3. May 2025
    4. April 2025
    5. March 2025
    6. 2025 Buildings supplement
    7. February 2025
    8. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    9. January 2025
    10. December 2024
    11. November 2024
    12. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. August 2024
    16. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    17. July 2024
    18. June 2024
    19. 2024 Innovation supplement
    20. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    21. May 2024
    22. April 2024
    23. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    24. March 2024
    25. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    31. October 2023
    32. September 2023
    33. Health Supplement
    Featured

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025
    Recent

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations earn cross-party support in path through Commons

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverApril 28, 20253 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Cr: Adobe

Draft legislation intended to bring about a fairer pig supply chain received cross-party backing, as it passed the Commons last week, moving a big step closer to becoming law.

Food security minister Daniel Zeichner told MPs during the Committee Stage debate on the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025 that the ‘practical and proportionate’ Statutory Instrument had been shaped in close consultation with industry.

He said the legislation would establish a framework for ‘fair and balanced’ supply contracts, with ‘preserved flexibility to reflect how businesses operate, provided practices are clearly agreed and set out in writing’.

“To support transparency, contracts should be in writing and include all terms relating to the purchase,” he said. “However, a fully compliant contract is not always appropriate, in particular in spot market trades, so the regulations include an option for producers to issue a notice to disapply and to step outside the framework for particular purchases when that suits both parties.”

He explained that, where the regulations apply, written contracts must specify expected supply volumes and remedies if those volumes are not met. “That was a major point of failure in the recent crisis, and the new requirement will give producers and processors greater certainty and stability,” he said.

The draft regulations promote pricing transparency through models in which prices are based on factors that farmers can verify themselves, such as market indices or shared cost of production data.

“The core principle throughout this is that contract terms cannot be changed unilaterally. Any changes must be agreed in writing by both parties, ensuring transparency and fairness, while allowing flexibility,” he said.

He outlined the ‘clear dispute resolution procedure’ that will apply. Oversight will be provided by the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), which can investigate alleged breaches that have not been resolved through dispute resolution. It has the authority to impose fines, order compensation, or both.

Safeguards

Conservative MP Neil Hudson (Epping Forest) said the Opposition was supporting these ‘very important’ draft regulations for the pig sector.

He sought assurance that the Government will commit to keeping the regulations under regular review and to making amendments, where necessary, to ensure that they remain robust and effective, which he subsequently received from the minister.

Fellow Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds), who lobbied for the regulations in his previous role with the NPA, said the regulations were not perfect, with more work to do, particularly to ensure that the new Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator is effective, but described them as a ‘huge step forward’.

Liberal democrat Tim Farron said he was also ‘very supportive of the draft regulations’. “Without safety, security and fairness in the sector, we stand the chance of losing it all together,” he said.

But he urged the minister to increase the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, so it can accept referrals regarding deals between farmers and processors, not just farmers and supermarkets.

Mr Zeichner said he was ‘encouraged’ to hear the support for the draft regulations. “I am confident that they will deliver the protections needed to ensure a stronger and fairer future for the sector,” he said.

What happens next?

The draft legislation moves to the House of Lords for scrutiny and debate by peers on May 12 and could reach the statute book soon after, coming into force 12 weeks later, potentially early-August, according to NPA senior policy adviser Tom Haynes.

There would then be a one-year transition before the new contracts become a requirement in August 2026.

 

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleFormer PIC European chief executive dies, aged 85
Next Article Red Tractor consults industry on new tiered pig welfare standards 
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

Farming and rural bodies give ‘cautious welcome’ to better-than-expected Defra funding settlement

June 11, 2025

GB pig prices for week ending June 7, 2025 – SPP moves up for fourth successive week

June 11, 2025

China delays retaliatory investigation into EU pork products

June 11, 2025
Latest News

Pigs Tomorrow: The sustainability challenges and trade-offs

June 13, 2025

Pigs Tomorrow: Ever-increasing knowledge informs future of farrowing

June 12, 2025

Farming and rural bodies give ‘cautious welcome’ to better-than-expected Defra funding settlement

June 11, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1752 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Piggery Stockpersons – Ref 1751 Western Australia

    • Western Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior-Level Pig Stockperson – Ref 1750 Hertfordshire

    • Hertfordshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.