Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed the introduction of new regulations that will provide the Agri-Food Regulator with enhanced powers to improve transparency and fairness across the agri-food supply chain, including the retail sector.

The regulations, announced today by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, deliver on a key Programme for Government commitment by strengthening the Regulator’s ability to carry out price and market analysis across all stages of the supply chain.

The Agri-Food Regulator, established in December 2023 under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023, has a dual statutory role in enforcing unfair trading practices legislation and in improving transparency through price and market reporting.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Canney said: “The primary objective of these regulations is to improve transparency across the agri-food supply chain and to strengthen the position of smaller suppliers who can face significantly greater bargaining power from larger buyers, including supermarkets and major retailers. These enhanced powers will allow the Regulator to deliver more meaningful and insightful price and market analysis right across the sector.”

Under the new regulations, the Regulator will have the power to compel the provision of price and market information where voluntary requests have not been complied with. These powers relate solely to the Regulator’s price and market analysis function and are separate from its enforcement role in relation to unfair trading practices.

Minister Canney also welcomed the proportionate approach taken, noting that small businesses will be excluded from the scope of the regulations and that safeguards are in place to limit the administrative burden on enterprises.

The regulations will come into effect on 31 December 2026, allowing sufficient time for the Agri-Food Regulator to put the necessary systems and processes in place. In the interim, the Regulator will continue to carry out its functions using publicly available data and information provided voluntarily by businesses.

Minister Canney concluded: “Improved transparency is key to a fair and well-functioning agri-food supply chain. These measures will help ensure smaller suppliers are better protected while providing greater clarity on how value is distributed from farm gate to retail shelf.”