A Bill to make provision for the appointment, functions and powers of a Grocery Market Ombudsman; and for connected purposes.
The Bill would establish an independent ombudsman for the grocery market to oversee the operation of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. The Bill would provide for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), within three months of the Bill's enactment, to establish the Office of the Grocery Market Ombudsman and a person as the Grocery Market Ombudsman. Although funded by the OFT, the ombudsman would be independent of it and would investigate complaints or disputes referred by the OFT, retailers or suppliers. The ombudsman’s determination would be final and binding on all parties and he/she would have the power to impose monetary penalties and/or costs. The Secretary of State would establish by regulation an appropriate range for such penalties, and would provide for enforcement.
House of Commons
19 April 2010
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Bill would create an independent Grocery Market Ombudsman to oversee the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. It would be established by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) within three months of enactment, but would operate independently and hear complaints from the OFT, retailers or suppliers. The ombudsman’s decisions would be final and binding and could include penalties.
The bill is currently at Committee stage in the House of Commons, having previously had the first and second readings and a Money Resolution.
Generated 21 February 2026
16 Dec 2009
5 Mar 2010
23 Mar 2010
30 Mar 2010
This Bill was presented, through the ballot procedure, to Parliament on 16 December 2009. This is known as First Reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.
This Bill had a Second Reading debate on Friday 5 March.
The 2009-10 session of parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
