Following our earlier article the High Court passed judgment on 21 December 2011 and the legal challenge to the consultation has been successful. We can also reveal that it looks as though the Government has been refused permission to appeal. The judgment is a boost to the sector that has been under severe strain but could prove not to be the lifeline that companies involved were hoping. Several companies have already entered insolvency procedures and the customers' confidence has been rocked by the obvious intention to slash the subsidy available. It will take a lot for that confidence to be restored. In addition there is the Government's need to reduce the cost of the subsidy to sit with its economic strategies. It could be that the success of this court case has merely delayed the inevitable.
On your marks, get set...STOP! On 1 May local authority environmental health officers (EHOs) in Wales will be given new enforcement powers to stop food businesses operating or force restrictions on the way in which they operate. More >>
Long-awaited Retail Watchdog to become reality The Queens' Speech set out yesterday the proposal for a Groceries Adjudicator Bill which will aim to ensure that large retailers treat their suppliers fairly. More >>