The Sugar Board is one of several Commodity boards operated by the NFU. However, it has significant differences to the other Commodity Boards in that:
- The NFU has a statutory mandate to represent the interests of growers in all commercial dealings with British Sugar, the monopoly processor and operator of the UK s national EU Sugar Quota
- The NFU has devolved responsibility to the Sugar Board for negotiating and agreeing the contract for supply and processing of sugar beet between growers and the processor via the Inter Professional Agreement (IPA)
- The Sugar Board receives funding from sugar beet growers via a levy charged against each tonne of sugar beet delivered in order to allow it to carry out its function and responsibilities to sugar beet growers
- Members of the Sugar Board have direct accountability to Levy Payers for the way that they discharge this function
- The Sugar Board is the vehicle through which the NFU discharges its statutory responsibilities to all sugar beet levy payers (including those who are not members of the NFU)
- The negotiation of the commercial contract (Inter Professional Agreement) between the monopoly processor and sugar beet growers
- Monitoring the equitable performance of the contract by both parties
- Auditing information provided by British Sugar (in respect of Levy Funds and performance of the IPA)
- The annual collection, management, use of and accounting for Levy Payers funds
- The management and investment of Levy Reserves
- Reporting and communication with Levy Payers (including NFU and non NFU members)
Sugar Board Constitution 2016