The written declaration adopted in Strasbourg this week calls for an investigation on how powerful supermarkets are impacting on small businesses, food suppliers, workers and consumers. MEPs point out that throughout the EU, retailing is increasingly run by a handful of major chains which are fast becoming ‘gatekeepers’, controlling farmers’ and other suppliers’ access to consumers. They claim this squeeze on suppliers has a negative knock-on effect on both the quality of employment and environmental protection, and that consumers face a potential loss in the diversity of products. Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says the initiative coincides with the intensifying debate in Ireland between the Irish Farmers’ Association and IBEC on the question of predatory pricing. Ms McGuinness said, ‘The indigenous Irish fruit and vegetable market is under serious threat because producer returns are being eroded by increasing costs on the one hand, and by downward prices they get for their goods.’ She asked the European Commission to stop ignoring the concerns of consumers and producers and start exposing the abusive market prices across the continent.

http://eurolinknews.com/2008/02/28/eu-urged-to-tackle-abuse-of-power-by-major-supermarket-retailers-20208/