OneWorld.net (U.S.)

30 April 2008: ActionAid today welcomed the Competition Commission’s recommendation for a food chain ombudsman, which should prevent big supermarkets from imposing unfair terms and conditions on producers in developing countries. Dominic Eagleton, policy analyst at ActionAid said: “The Competition Commission’s recommendations are good news for the millions of poor workers, mainly women, around the world who produce and pack goods for the big four supermarkets. “Faced with a crisis over global food supplies, the need for an ombudsman – a supermarkets watchdog – to ensure a fair and sustainable food chain is greater than ever. “Supermarkets must play fair. If they reject the appointment of an ombudsman, the government must step in and impose one” ActionAid has been campaigning for a code of conduct and an independent watchdog to curb abuses of supermarket buying power against producers and workers in the developing world. Last year the Competition Commission’s inquiry found that big food retailers regularly carry out 26 abusive trading practices against their suppliers. ENDS Notes 1. In April 2007 ActionAid published its Who Pays? report, which detailed how thousands of women workers have been locked into poverty pay and dangerous conditions because of the ‘big four’ supermarkets’ demands for ever lower prices and faster production schedules. The campaign that followed has attracted 40,000 signatures, as well as endorsement from celebrities including Emma Thompson and Bill Bailey 2. For full details of the Competition Commission's inquiry see the Final Report, released today at http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2006/grocery/