As the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), I’m launching a new survey for the UK pig sector to better understand current challenges, awareness of the Fair Dealing Obligations, and experiences across the supply chain.
The survey is now live and invites producers, processors and others working across the industry to share their experiences and reflections.
The UK pig sector has faced considerable challenges in recent months.
Many producers and processors are navigating volatile prices, rising input costs and wider supply chain uncertainty, all of which can place additional pressure on commercial relationships.
Against this backdrop, confidence, clarity and fairness across the supply chain are more important than ever.
The survey will help us better understand:
- awareness of the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025. These regulations are intended to support clearer and more transparent contractual relationships between producers and purchasers, helping to improve confidence across the supply chain.
- awareness of the role and functions of my office, the ASCA.
Your feedback will help identify where further guidance, communication or engagement may be needed. It will also help us understand how the regulations are operating in practice and inform discussions with policy colleagues in Defra.
It takes around 10 minutes to complete and will close on 27 July 2026.
Whether you are a pig farmer, processor, part of a representative organisation, or otherwise involved in the pig sector, we would like to hear from you.
Please do share the survey with others working across the sector.
Learn more and get in touch
Part of my role as ASCA is to support fairness and transparency across the agricultural supply chains covered by the Fair Dealing Obligations, including the pig sector.
This includes raising awareness of the regulations, engaging with stakeholders and understanding how the sector is experiencing the changes.
My work in the milk sector has shown how important regular communication and engagement are in building trust and confidence across the supply chain.
I welcome the opportunity to meet anyone involved in the pig sector, whether to hear about the challenges you are facing or to discuss the support my office can offer.
I would also be grateful for suggestions on events, networks or other opportunities that could help strengthen our visibility and understanding of the sector.
Whilst anyone in the pig sector can contact me about concerns relating to the Fair Dealing Obligations, if there are issues you would like to raise confidentially without making a formal complaint, you can do so by using our ‘in-confidence’ mailbox service: ASCA-in-confidence@defra.gov.uk
For general enquiries or to make a formal complaint, email: asca@defra.gov.uk
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