FARMERS, producers and suppliers to major retailers are not raising groceries code issues because of fear of retribution, according to the results of a YouGov survey into the effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).

The adjudicator, Christine Tacon, pictured, commissioned the survey into the effectiveness of the adjudicator’s office in implementing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) since the role was created one year ago.

The results of the survey were announced on Monday at the inaugural GCA conference at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster.

Fear of consequences was the most frequently used (58 per cent) reason but there were also concerns about the GCA’s ability to deal with problems efficiently.

Forty-one per cent would not raise issues about retailers because they did not think the GCA could do anything.

Over the period from July 2013 to the end of the survey, 24 per cent of indirect suppliers to retailers believed there had been a change for the worse in retailer practice, compared with 17 per cent who believed practice had improved.

Ms Tacon told the conference: “We are subject to a review after two years. If it is found we have made no impact we can be can shut down.”