In light of concerns expressed by the IFA in relation to significant gaps between farmgate and retail prices and warnings of egg shortages, Government needs to fast-track long promised powers for the AgriFood Regulator, according to Social Democrats food spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore.<\/p>\n
Deputy Whitmore said:<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than eighteen months have passed since the AgriFood Regulator first requested additional powers to properly oversee pricing and profit-taking in the food chain. The Government\u2019s plan will see these powers introduced in December, and that is simply too late.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis week, egg farmers have highlighted the widening gap between what supermarkets charge and what farmers receive, raising serious concerns over price gouging. It is reported that egg farmers receive an average of around \u20ac1.52 per dozen of eggs, while consumers pay over \u20ac4.<\/p>\n
\u201cFarmers are being squeezed, while consumers are paying more, while profits are being reaped elsewhere along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn January, I introduced a bill that would give the AgriFood Regulator the teeth it needs to get market data from large middle-men and supermarkets. With an empowered AgriFood Regulator, we could avoid any further price gouging in the AgriFood sector, especially against the backdrop of a highly unstable global geopolitical climate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout this transparency, we cannot ensure fairness for either consumers or farmers, and this week\u2019s egg price gap controversy is just one example of that. Considering the potential for food price increases as war in the Middle East rages on, and the already 40% increase in fertiliser prices, we urgently need this transparency along the food chain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government must stop dragging its feet. We cannot regulate yesterday\u2019s crisis tomorrow. Enhanced powers for the AgriFood Regulator should be fast-tracked immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
March 31st, 2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In light of concerns expressed by the IFA in relation to significant gaps between farmgate and retail prices and warnings of egg shortages, Government needs to fast-track long promised powers for the AgriFood Regulator, according to Social Democrats food spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: \u201cMore than eighteen months have passed since the AgriFood Regulator […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12551,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[410,650,825,268,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agriculture","category-cost-of-living","category-inflation","category-jennifer-whitmore","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n