 |
 |
Supermarkets across Scotland, Britain and Europe have great power over farmers and producers - a power that many massively abuse.
For example, this year across Europe, the price that supermarkets pay farmers for their milk has gone down by nearly a third - but the price on the shelf has hardly changed. Indeed, the price that UK dairy farmers receive for milk is only slightly higher than in was in 1995, yet supermarket prices have soared.
As a result, farmers incomes are slashed and consumers don't benefit. Meanwhile, supermarkets make massive profits by pocketing the difference.
More and more farmers are becoming reliant on Government handouts. But there would be no need for farm payments in farmers got a fair price for their produce.
Farmers don't want to be paid in the mailbox; they want to be paid in the marketplace.
George Lyon MEP is leading the call for European action to tackle this abuse of power by supermarkets.
He commented; "As a former farmer myself, I know the difficulties farmers across Scotland face when dealing with the big supermarket giants.
"It is always the farmer who must find savings in order to meet the demands of the supermarket.
"This has gone on too long. We need European action to end supermarkets abusing their market power."
Scotland's Lib Dem MEP is calling for a European public hearing into producer and consumer prices across the food chain. In addition, George is calling for an EU wide Code of Conduct for supermarkets and an EU ombudsman to regulate the power of supermarkets across Europe.
George Lyon MEP added; "It is vital that we get European action to curb the power of supermarkets. If action is only taken at UK level, supermarkets will simply look to farmers overseas for cheaper prices. We need EU wide action so that supermarkets are forced to change their ways."
To support Scottish farmers please sign the petition below calling for supermarkets to give farmers a fair deal, and consumers a fair price.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- George Lyon MEP
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats