The UK government has confirmed that the grocery watchdog Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) will transfer from the Department for Business and Trade to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) from 1 July 2026, in a move aimed at improving fairness across the food supply chain.

The shift is designed to better align oversight of major grocery retailers with wider agricultural policy, as ministers seek to strengthen support for farmers and food producers.

The decision follows recommendations from the Farming Profitability Review led by Minette Batters, which called for a more streamlined and coordinated approach to supply chain regulation.

Farming minister Angela Eagle said the change would help “create a level playing field right across the supply chain”, adding that the move would support “a more joined-up approach to fairness” while maintaining the regulator’s independence.

The GCA, currently led by Mark White, oversees relationships between the UK’s largest supermarket groups and their direct suppliers, enforcing compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.

White said he was “looking forward to working more closely with Defra” to continue ensuring fair treatment of suppliers.

Despite the departmental shift, the government confirmed there will be no changes to the GCA’s statutory role or enforcement powers. The Code itself will remain under the oversight of the Competition and Markets Authority.

The move also aims to strengthen links with the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator, as part of a wider push to improve transparency and fairness in food supply chains. It builds on recent interventions, including the introduction of Fair Dealing rules for the dairy and pig sectors.

It is understood further details on how the transition will be implemented will be announced ahead of the upcoming July deadline.

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