Established under the Agricultural Act 2020, the ASCA is currently responsible for enforcing the . As further regulations are introduced to address fairness in the supply chain, these will be brought into the ASCA鈥檚 remit.
皇家华人welcomed the introduction of the ASCA as an essential enforcement body to drive behavioural change and build a fairer supply chain. However, the NFU continues to call for the adjudicator鈥檚 powers to be extended across all farming sectors to effectively address longstanding power imbalances.
How ASCA supports farmers
The ASCA provides a route to challenge unfair practices where concerns over milk contracts have not been resolved with purchasers directly. Farmers can raise a complaint to the ASCA for the reasons outlined below.
Once a complaint is submitted, the ASCA can launch an investigation where purchasers are legally required to cooperate. If a breach is found, ASCA has the authority to impose聽 for the producer.
When you should report a complaint
You should consider contacting ASCA if:
- you do not have a written milk purchase contract in place
- your milk contract is missing a requirement outlined in the regulations
- your milk contract includes terms that go against the regulations.
For contracts with variable pricing: if your purchaser fails to respond within seven days to your request for an explanation on how a new price was set after a review.
To raise a complaint, you will need to complete an and email to [email protected].听
Raising concerns confidentially
If you do not wish to raise a formal complaint but still want to highlight a concern, you can contact the ASCA confidentially. Any information you share can remain entirely confidential and you can choose to be anonymous.
While a formal investigation cannot be opened from confidential information alone, it will help inform the ASCA鈥檚 work priorities, build a picture of the current trading landscape and drive improvements across the industry.
Email confidential concerns to: [email protected].听
ASCA engagement
Since being established, the ASCA office has engaged positively with the supply chain and would like to encourage further visibility at industry events and NFU meetings to raise the profile among UK farmers.
Farmers must be confident that when raising a complaint, it will lead to meaningful action.
How can the role be strengthened further?
皇家华人would like to see the ASCA office conduct annual surveys to monitor if the office is operating effectively and to its maximum capabilities.
It is also important that ASCA and the GCA (Grocery Code Adjudicator), who regulates relationships between large retailers and their suppliers, work closely together to foster a unified strategy and coordinated action against unfair practices.
Finally, the NFU is calling for the ASCA to have strong powers which allow proactive investigations of potential breaches. Currently, the ASCA only has the power to investigate relevant complaints referred to by a producer.
Further information is available at: .
