Responsibility for the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) will transfer from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The GCA aims to regulate the relationship between the UK’s largest grocery retailers and their direct suppliers by encouraging, monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.
Government said the change would “strengthen fairness” across the UK’s food supply chain and “better support” farmers and food producers, with the change set to be implemented from 1st July 2026.
The change also implements a key recommendation from Baroness Minette Batters’ landmark Farming Profitability Review to streamline oversight of the grocery supply chain and strengthens links to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).
“Moving responsibility for the Groceries Code Adjudicator to Defra will support a more joined-up approach to fairness across the food supply chain.”
Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle commented: “We are backing our farmers by creating a level playing right across the supply chain to ensure productive and profitable businesses can flourish.
“Moving responsibility for the Groceries Code Adjudicator to Defra will support a more joined-up approach to fairness across the food supply chain, while fully protecting its independence and statutory role.”
Groceries Code Adjudicator Mark White stated: “I am looking forward to working more closely with Defra to continue to ensure fair treatment of direct suppliers to the designated retailers.”
The transfer of the GCA builds on wider action reportedly taken by Government to ensure supply chains in the food sector are fair and transparent, including already introducing Fair Dealing rules for dairy and pigs.
The GCA will remain fully independent, and there will be no changes to its statutory role or enforcement powers. The Groceries Supply Code of Practice will continue to be owned by the Competition and Markets Authority, and further detail on implementation will be set out by the July transfer date.
