The Fair Dealing Obligations are a positive step for the pig sector because they bring greater certainty and consistency to commercial relationships. Formalising supply agreements should help reduce the peaks and troughs in pricing and supply that have characterised the industry in the past, giving both producers and processors a more stable framework to work within.

From what we’re seeing, processors have engaged positively with the new requirements and are working constructively with their producer suppliers to have the necessary arrangements in place ahead of the August deadline. The long-standing relationships that underpin the UK pig sector remain key, and the new framework is building on those rather than replacing them.

FDOP is about ensuring both parties have clear, transparent agreements, so early engagement and open communication are the best way to make the transition as smooth as possible.

It’s also worth remembering that this is new territory for both government and industry in this sector. A major positive is that the legislation has been designed with enough flexibility for Defra to review and adapt it as market conditions evolve. We therefore take the view that the important thing now is to let the new arrangements bed in and see how they operate in practice before rushing to judgement.

More broadly, the pig sector benefits from measures that improve confidence and certainty across the supply chain. FDOP won’t solve every challenge facing the industry, but it should provide a stronger contractual foundation that supports more stable and sustainable trading relationships over the long term.