The Statutory Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, 2016 to 2019

Overview

The Groceries Code Adjudicator works with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and is the independent regulator ensuring that regulated retailers treat their direct suppliers lawfully and fairly. The GCA is responsible for monitoring and encouraging compliance with and enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (the Code).

The Statutory Review of the GCA (required under the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013) is to gain evidence on how the GCA has performed its statutory obligations from April 2016 to 31 March 2019.

We look forward to receiving your views and comments on the Statutory Review.

Why your views matter

The Statutory Review will provide evidence which will allow the Government to make an assessment of the GCA's performace against the measures set out in the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 ("the Act"). These measures are explained in the Terms of Reference, the contents of which are summarised on the following page:

• how the GCA's powers have been exercised
• how effective the GCA has been in enforcing the Code
• whether to amend or replace the Groceries Code Adjudicator (Permitted Maximum Financial Penalty) Order 2015
• whether to make an Order setting out the information that the GCA may consider when deciding whether to investigate.

Your responses to the questions will therefore inform our findings and any recommendations you make will need to be supported by a robust evidence base.

What happens next

Comments made in response to this review will be considered by the GCA Review Team and will inform the final report which will then be considered by BEIS ministers. We may contact you if, for example, we have a query in respect of your response. A final report covering the review of the GCA will be published on the GOV.UK website.