Hi °C | Lo °C South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said the Government must ensure that Northern Ireland beef and sheep producers are not receiving low farm gates prices compared to those in Britain.
Ms Ritchie raised the issue in a debate in the House of Commons regarding dairy prices.
She said the grocery ombudsman must act.
The SDLP MP said: “Prices here are much lower than GB and there clearly needs to be work done to ensure that better collaboration between producers, processors, retailers and consumers takes place, because it’s the consumers who are having to pay a hefty price for the produce in the supermarkets.
“Those in the middle are making much more from this and the producer and consumer at either ends are getting squeezed.
“These efforts can only be effective if the grocery ombudsman has the teeth and the authority to act, and deliver for producers and consumers.”
