Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator for supporting producers with (a) non-compliant and (b) missing written milk purchase contracts under the regulations.

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) is responsible for enforcing regulations developed under the Agriculture Act 2020 'Fair Dealing' powers (section 29). Regulations introduced using these powers promote fair contractual dealing and contribute to a more equitable relationship between producers and purchasers. To date, the powers have been used to create the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 (FDOM24) and the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025 (FDOP25).

The ASCA can investigate relevant complaints around compliance with these regulations, including ensuring parties agree a written contract as mandated by the FDOMM24. The ASCA also aims to be a convener across supply chains, working with producers and purchasers to improve business relationships and behaviours around contracts.