Rod Addy Renewed calls for the DTI's grocery code of trading practice to increase protection to farmers and small producers from "over-zealous middle men" were voiced as The Grocer went to press on Thursday. The Grocer understands that the issue has been raised at recent meetings between farmers' leaders and multiples' representatives. And while producers welcomed the new code, which is applicable to the big four multiples, it was pointed out that processors were often the "villains of the piece" in negotiations with farmers. Safeway director of communications Kevin Hawkins said the code failed to address the question of processors. "It is always assumed that we have direct relationships with all farmer suppliers. We don't. Very often a processor is involved," he said. "Obviously the big multiples will exhort the businesses who occupy the middle of the supply chain to fulfil the spirit of the DTI code, but they are not legally obliged to do so." He added: "While we are prepared to follow the new legally binding code, we are also in talks with the NFU about its concerns that the code is ambiguous." Hawkins' comments were echoed by farming sector figures to The Grocer this week and it is understood that the NFU is to protest to the DTI. The pleas to widen the powers of the code to include both middlemen processors and all other retailers will soon be made to DTI secretary of state Patricia Hewitt who, so far, with the OFT, has resisted any extension to the code. extensioned. However, pressure is likely to mount from the NFU in the coming weeks as its president Ben Gill seeks an early meeting with Hewitt to air his concerns. {{NEWS }}