The Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987 contains a number of provisions aimed at curbing practices such as below-cost selling (or, more correctly, "below net invoice price" selling), "hello money" and boycotting.
The Order covers all grocery goods, as well as intoxicating liquor and other household goods ordinarily sold in grocery shops.
It covers processed food but not fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, fresh and frozen meat, nor fish. Seasonal goods (defined as Christmas cakes, Easter eggs and Halloween bracks) are also excluded from certain provisions of the Order.
Disputes have arisen from time to time over exactly what products are covered by the order.
Last July, the High Court ruled that disposable nappies were not "grocery goods" under the terms of the Order after the Director of Consumer Affairs challenged a Dunnes Stores below-cost promotion.
The National Consumer Agency, which has been campaigning for the abolition of the Order, claims that 75 per cent of food items in a typical household basket are covered by the Order.
Items listed by the agency include: sliced bread, breakfast cereal, packets of rashers, tinned vegetables, baby drinks and juices, baby milk compound, biscuits, pasteurised milk, fresh cream, yoghurt, processed cheese, baked beans, cooked ham, prepared chicken fillet, pasta, sweet corn, frozen vegetables, eggs, butter, margarine, frozen fish, fish fingers, smoked salmon, tuna, tea, coffee, drinking chocolate, sugar, chips, flour, cream crackers, jam, honey, marmalade, desserts and ice creams, pizza, cooking oil, olive oil, mayonnaise, pasta meal sauces, ketchup, relishes, chocolate bars, custard, fruit cake, tinned fruit, soft drinks, frozen meats, salt, mustard, vinegar, potato crisps, convenience chilled foods, prepared salads, hot deli foods, fruit juices, coleslaw, soups, dried fruit and nuts, garlic bread, mixed herbs and spices.