Agri-Food Regulator supports Blas na hÉireann

Regulator announced as supporter of Savoury Pantry categories at the Irish Food Awards 2026

An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) was announced today as the supporter of the Savoury Pantry category at Blas na hÉireann 2026.

“We relish this opportunity to partner with Blas na hÉireann,” said Niamh Lenehan, CEO of the Agri-Food Regulator. “The focus of the two organisations blend well together. The Irish Food Awards recognises the very best of Irish food and drink producers to help them succeed, while the Agri-Food Regulator promotes fairness and transparency in business-to-business relationships across the food supply chain for the benefit of all.”

“At Blas na hÉireann, our focus has always been on supporting Irish food and drink producers and creating opportunities for them to grow and succeed. We are delighted to welcome the Agri-Food Regulator as a supporter of the Savoury Pantry categories this year. We know from our conversations with producers that making a great product is only one part of building a successful food business. Having fair and transparent relationships throughout the food supply chain matters too. That is why we are delighted to welcome the Agri-Food Regulator to Blas na hÉireann this year.” Artie Clifford, Chairperson – Blas na hÉireann 

Chutneys, oils, jellies, and salt are some of the products featured in the Savoury Pantry category. “Seasonings, dressings, sauces are all agri-food products,” continued Ms. Lenehan. “There is sometimes an erroneous perception that agri-food is a sub-section of food products, whereas it’s an umbrella term that includes food and drink products.”

Suppliers of agri-food products are provided legal protection against 16 specific unfair trading practices (UTPs) by their larger buyers. UTPs are broadly defined as practices that deviate from good commercial conduct and are contrary to good faith and fair dealing. If a food supplier feels they were subject to a UTP, they can make a complaint to the Agri-Food Regulator.

The winners of the Savoury Pantry category will be announced at the Blas na hÉireann awards ceremony in Dingle on 2 October 2026. The awards are the biggest blind tasting of produce in the country and the criteria on which the products are judged is now recognised as an international industry standard.

“We wish all the finalists, not only those in the Savoury Pantry category, the best of luck,” said Ms. Lenehan “And we look forward to celebrating the achievements of and engaging with all the food and drink businesses at Blas na hÉireann in October.”

ENDS

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Note for the editors

Under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 (2023 Act), An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) was established as an independent state agency on 13^th December 2023.

Under the 2023 Act, the Agri-Food Regulator is responsible for promoting fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.

It is designated as the Enforcement Authority for the purposes of the Unfair Trading Regulations (S.I. No. 625/2023 – Agricultural and Food Supply Chain (Unfair Trading) Regulations 2023).

Unfair Trading Regulations  

The law protects against the following 10 unfair trading practices (UTPs) in all circumstances (Unconditional or ‘black’ UTPs):

1. Payment later than 30 days after the end of an agreed delivery period for perishable agricultural and food products
2. Payment later than 60 days after the end of an agreed delivery period for non-perishable agricultural and food products
3. Cancellations of orders for perishable agricultural and food products with less than 30 days’ notice
4. Unilateral contract changes by the buyer relating to any of the following:
   • the frequency, method, place, timing or volume of the supply or delivery of agricultural and food products,
   • the quality standard,
   • the terms of payment or the price
5. Requirement for supplier to make a payment not related to the sale of the agricultural and food products of the supplier
6. Requirement for supplier to pay for the loss or deterioration of their product where it is not caused by the negligence or fault of the supplier
7. Refusal of written confirmation of a supply agreement by the buyer, despite request of the supplier
8. Any unlawful acquisition, use or disclosure of trade secrets by the buyer
9. Commercial retaliation or threat of such by the buyer against the supplier because the latter are exercising their contractual or legal rights including filing a complaint with the Agri-Food Regulator
10. Requirement for compensation to the buyer for the cost of examining customer complaints where there has been no negligence or fault by the supplier

The law protects against six additional unfair trading practices where they are not agreed between the supplier and their buyer in advance (Conditional or ‘grey’ UTPs):

1. Buyer returning unsold products to the supplier without paying for those unsold products or without paying for the disposal of those products where this has not been clearly agreed in advance.
2. Buyer requiring payment from the supplier for stocking, display or listing of products or of making such products available on the market where this has not been clearly agreed in advance.
3. Buyer requiring the supplier to bear all or part of the cost of any discounts on products sold by the buyer as part of a promotion where this has not been clearly agreed in advance.
4. Buyer requiring payment from the supplier for marketing by the buyer of the supplier’s products where this has not been clearly agreed in advance.
5. Buyer requiring payment from the supplier for advertising by the buyer of the supplier’s products where this has not been clearly agreed in advance.
6. Buyer requiring payment from the supplier for staff for fitting-out premises used for the sale of the supplier’s products where this has not been clearly agreed in advance.