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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reductions in the prices paid to British dairy farmers by suppliers; and whether she plans to review the adequacy of the regulatory framework governing the dairy supply chain.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Prices in the dairy sector are influenced by a wide range of factors, including global market trends, input costs and consumer demand.

The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, which came fully into force earlier this year, are designed to bring greater transparency and fairness to contractual relationships between farmers and milk purchasers. The regulations require clear and objective pricing terms, helping farmers to understand how the price they receive is determined and to plan their business decisions with greater confidence.

These regulations are subject to a statutory review to assess their effectiveness and ensure that the framework continues to operate as intended.