Departing TFA chairman wants stronger supply chain investigative powers

North Yorkshire farmer Stephen Wyrill said he was keen to see the role of Groceries Code Adjudicator given greater investigative powers as he prepares to step down as national chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA).
Stephen Wyrill, national chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association.Stephen Wyrill, national chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association.
Stephen Wyrill, national chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association.

The prominent industry leader said the appointment of the UK’s first independent adjudicator to oversee the relationship between supermarkets and their suppliers represented a major lobbying success for the TFA and other farming groups in 2013, but that adjudicator Christine Tacon’s powers do not yet go far enough.

My Wyrill, who farms near Catterick, has served as the TFA’s national chairman for a three-year term and this is due to come to an end on March 2.

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The TFA has recently responded to a government consultation on the adjudicator’s performance and Mr Wyrill has called for the scope of the role to be extended to the whole supply chain at hearings held by parliamentary committees in Westminster.

“It’s a big thing we are asking for but if we can get this in place where complaints against processors and retailers can be looked at from farm to fork, instead of just the top ten British food retailers, then it will be a proud achievement for all of us.

“I would like to see farmers in general get a better deal for what we are producing.”

Mr Wyrill is not leaving the TFA and will continue serving its governance board when his time as chairman is up.

As well as farming in his own right, he was elected as a Conservative councillor for Catterick ward at Richmondshire District Council in August.

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