On 25 May 2011, several thousand Irish farmers took to the streets of Dublin to protest at a dawn raid conducted by the Competition Authority at the head offices of the Irish Farmers Association (the “IFA”).

According to the Authority, the raid was part of an ongoing investigation into possible price-fixing in liquid milk and followed incidents where farmers had disrupted normal business at a number of retail outlets.

The IFA has complained that the Authority has unfairly targeted struggling farmers seeking to negotiate a fair price for their milk, rather than the retail multiples. It has called for legislation to tackle what it sees as inequality in the food supply chain.

The usually reticent Authority has responded to the allegations, pointing out that the search was carried out “in a highly professional manner” and making it clear that its work is focused on protecting competition to benefit consumers and the economy as a whole, and that it uses its statutory powers to this end.

The Authority seems set to continue its investigation, and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has declined to interfere. However, the broader issue of “fair trade” legislation, and a possible code of practice in the groceries sector, remains on the political agenda.