Minister of Agriculture and Food Sandra Borch (Sp) is in bad weather during the day.
The Minister himself argues that the statements are about the farmers having to be paid decently.
But the call for higher prices in grocery stores has also not gone down well with those who work to help those who are struggling.
– We hope politicians who argue for less price competition, also argue for better support for those who have difficulties in the first place, says Jansen Solvang, chairman of the board and spokesperson for Fattighuset to Nettavisen.
He now calls for a comprehensive policy from the minister, and asks her to take seriously the challenges poor Norwegians have.
– Politics is out of the question
But political opponents have also reacted to Borch’s statement about ending price wars during the holidays. Lene Westgaard-Halle, the Conservative Party’s business policy spokesperson, asked Borch a written question. She wanted to know how the Minister expected the grocery industry to follow up on a coordinated agreement to avoid price wars during the holidays, without challenging the competition rules in the legislation.
Read how Sandra Borch (Sp) responds to the criticism further down in the case.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food reiterated that price dumping can lead to prices in the grocery store not reflecting the costs of production, and that an unhealthy discount market is established where there is no cost coverage.
Once again, Borch served the statement as recently led to a public warning from the Norwegian Competition Authority that the Minister called for a breach of the Competition Act. In the warning, they reminded that the regulations state that it is not legal to agree on coordinated bidding campaigns, or agree that they should be discontinued.
Also read: Clear message from Norwegian grocery giants: Now food prices are rising
The poverty network Norway asks politicians to take responsibility
– We fear that food costs for the poor will rise much more in the future with high electricity costs and an increase in production and distribution costs. It is the politicians’ main task to ensure food safety and good food quality for everyone, says Rolf Solvang, chairman of the board of the Poverty Network Norway (FnN), to Nettavisen.
The organization works to fight poverty and social exclusion in society.
He believes that the will to regulate the prices of the most necessary foods has been absent among Norwegian politicians. The problem is that Norway has been named the country in the whole world with the lowest degree of self-sufficiency, and this must be rectified with more food production in Norway, he explains. However, the organization largely agrees with Borch that the farmers are underpaid.
He believes that arrangements should be made for it to be possible to make a living from being a farmer in Norway. Farmers and their producers must be paid more. He believes that this is a small part of what customers today pay for, and this can be compensated by the wholesale and store level being price-regulated so that food chains and wholesalers must limit their dividends.
– It is sad if we are to continue to have politicians who are not willing to regulate prices, because it means that we do not have politicians who are willing to govern.
– Sandra Borch is right that farmers must be paid more for the production of our food. If it becomes much more expensive, politicians must ensure that the poor can afford a good diet by fighting overpricing and price cooperation in the grocery trade, says FnN.
He believes the impression today is that politicians are satisfied with the charity of the poorhouses and internal issues, and believes that these can provide worthy offers. Instead, we should have politicians who can set the subsistence rates.
Today, the standard of living that Nav provides to the poorest is 60 per cent of what the Norwegian Institute for Consumer Research (SIFO) has determined as the least cost of having a dignified, decent and human rights-satisfactory standard of living in Norway, Solvang explains.
Also read: Alerts solid price-bang on bread and pizza
– I have not called for price cooperation
The online newspaper has asked the Minister of Agriculture and Food several questions. Among other things, we have asked for comment on the criticism from the Poor Network Norway and the Poor House.
In addition, we have asked for an explanation of why she believes the proposals for a price war do not violate the law, as both the Norwegian Competition Authority and the Conservative Party have pointed out.
Borch answers the same as she did when the Norwegian Competition Authority tightened her up, and when the Conservatives wanted an answer to what she really meant with the price war statement.
– As I have been clear on before, I have not encouraged the grocery chains to price cooperation. Of course I will not do that either. It would be sensational if I were to encourage the grocery chains to break the competition regulations, says the minister to Nettavisen.
She emphasizes that it is the business actors themselves who set the price to the consumer, and the prices are related to the competitive situation in the grocery market.
– My point has always been the negative consequences in that price dumping can lead to increased food waste, and that the price level does not reflect the costs involved in the production of food, she says, and points out:
– I also believe that it is good that consumers can get offers on food, make good purchases and save money. And it is especially good in a time like now, where many households are struggling financially due to large increases in electricity costs, the minister concludes.
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