The interim National Consumer Agency has asked consumers to make submissions to the Government on whether it should scrap the Groceries Order, which prevents retailers from selling packaged groceries below cost.

The appeal from agency chairwoman Ann Fitzgerald comes three weeks before the deadline for submissions set by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Míchéal Martin. He initiated the review after the Consumer Strategy Group called for the controversial order to be revoked.

Ms Fitzgerald said the order amounted to a bad deal for consumer and operated against their interests. "The environment in which the Groceries Order was enacted is now redundant and times have changed dramatically," she said.

"Long term discounts are a feature of the grocery trade. They can range up to 18 per cent. They don't appear on invoices and retailers are prohibited by the order from passing them on to consumers."

Ms Fitzgerald said that consumers who wish to make a submission can read the Consumer Strategy Group report on www.irishconsumer.ie.

Comments or observations can be sent by email to groceriesorder@entemp.ie or by post to the Consumer Policy Section in Mr Martin's Department at the Earlsfort Centre on Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2. They must arrive before 5pm on July 31st.

"The retail industry will make a case in the Minister's consultation period for why the Order should stay and, as vested interests, will make numerous submissions," Ms Fitzgerald said.

"The Minister also needs to hear from consumers as otherwise the debate will take place in a vacuum. There is a need for consumers to join the campaign on this. Consumers can't afford to do nothing."