Euro-MP renews call for Office of Fair Trading to stand up to Supermarkets

9.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 20th Sep 2004

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne chaired the NFU fringe meeting at the

Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth tonight, giving members the

opportunity to express their on a wide range of issues affecting

agriculture.

The panel discussion included Andrew George MP and Sue Miller, the Liberal

Democrat spokesperson on Food and Rural Affairs in the House of Commons

and Lords respectively. Joining them was the Deputy President of NFU

Peter Kendall.

Speaking following the meeting, the Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"Liberal Democrats very much support the interests of rural communities,

family farms and the rural environment. Having represented West Midlands

farmers in the European Parliament for the last 5 years I am very much

aware of the problems they have.

"I continue to argue in the European Parliament that existing legislation

should be implemented equally across the EU, to create a level playing

field for our farmers and that any new legislation passed at EU level is

subject to full comprehensive impact assessments.

"At long last we have movement on CAP reform in the European Parliament

but

farmers are continuing to have a difficult time.

"Supermarkets are now so powerful they can dictate market conditions for

British farmers. It is clear the Government can no longer sit on its

hands. Food supply chain relationships need rebalancing, the Supermarket

Code must be strengthened and the Office of Fair Trading must get tough

and support farmers who are being ripped off.