One in seven agri-food suppliers in Ireland have experienced unfair trading practices, according to a new survey by the Agri-Food Regulator.
The regulator’s first industry-wide poll found that while most supplier–buyer relationships were reported as satisfactory, 14% of firms cited instances such as delayed payments and being held financially responsible for goods lost or damaged outside their control.
Supplier reluctance to report unfair conduct remains high, with concerns over commercial retaliation and de-listing noted. The regulator said efforts to increase awareness of the EU’s unfair trading directive and promote confidential complaints mechanisms are ongoing.
Separately, 70% of suppliers flagged rising operating costs as their top concern—driven by input prices and labour costs.
The regulator, established in late 2023 in response to growing concerns over grocery pricing transparency, is still operating without powers to compel market data disclosures. Requests to the Department of Agriculture for these additional enforcement powers remain unresolved, though discussions are continuing.