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UK Consultation on Dairy Contracts – All You Need To Know

NFU Scotland urged all dairy farmers to engage with the long-awaited government consultation on dairy contracts and speak up for a more effective dairy supply chain, with fairer terms for farmers.

The twelve-week consultation process from Defra on “Contractual relationships in the UK dairy industry” came to an end at midnight on September 15th, 2020.

The UK Government and Devolved Administrations have now published their response to last year’s consultation seeking views from dairy farmers and processors across the UK about how contracts and relationships could be improved.  Further information can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-code-of-conduct-to-ensure-a-fairer-dairy-supply-chain and the full responses can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/dairy-industry-contractual-relationships.  Milk committee chair Gary Mitchell would like to thank all dairy farmers who took the time to fill in the consultation.

• Information on the consultation can be found here
• A briefing on the five key points crucial to dairy contracts is available here
• Dairy Contracts Frequently asked questions can be found here
  

NFUS is here to help

The NFUS dairy team is available to help in any way we can. Milk committee Chairman Gary Mitchell has been involved with this crucial issue for many years and sees this as major opportunity for dairy farmers and the wider dairy sector.

For at least two years now NFUS have been actively talking to all stages in the dairy supply chain on this topic and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the farmer and additional stakeholders that interacted with NFUS during this consultation process and in turn offered feedback to Defra.  It was important that our voices were heard.

NFUS believes the introduction of well-considered appropriate legislation regarding dairy contracts between dairy farmers and milk buyers is essential and this was stressed in their response to Defra.   This will create the foundations of a modern, thriving industry based on contracts that are agreed, not imposed, through free and equal negotiation and in good faith for the benefit of all in the supply chain.