What the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ does

  • We enforce compliance with the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 across the agriculture sector, which includes the industry codes.
  • We conduct random compliance checks under these codes and investigate alleged breaches.
  • We can take court action to seek a financial penalty for a breach, or issue an infringement notice.

What the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ can't do

  • We don’t provide legal advice.
  • We don’t get involved in individual disputes.
  • We don’t regulate prices in the sugar, dairy, horticulture or wheat industries.

Key industry topics

Free range claims during an Avian Influenza outbreak

Poultry egg and meat producers affected by government housing orders during an Avian Influenza outbreak can continue to sell their products labelled as free range for up to 90 days without a risk of enforcement action by the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´.

Industry codes

Codes of conduct provide a set of rules or minimum standards for an industry. They cover the relationship between industry participants and their customers.

Water

The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ has several roles under the Water Act 2007, including enforcing the water market and the water charge rules.

Contracts

When someone buys products or services, they enter into a contract with the seller. There are laws protecting consumers and small businesses from unfair terms in standard form contracts.

Horticulture

Dairy and perishable goods

Dairy Code of Conduct

The dairy code regulates conduct between dairy farmers and milk processors. Under the code all raw milk must be bought from dairy farmers under a milk supply agreement that complies with the code.

Dairy inquiry 2016-18

The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ conducted an inquiry into the competitiveness, trading practices, and transparency of the Australian dairy industry.

Perishable agricultural goods inquiry 2020

In August 2020, the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ was directed to start a 3-month inquiry into bargaining power imbalances in supply chains for perishable agricultural products in Australia.

Bulk grains

Wheat Port Code of Conduct

The wheat port code regulates the conduct of port terminal service providers. It seeks to ensure that exporters of bulk wheat have fair and transparent access to port terminal services.

Bulk grain ports monitoring

Following a decision to reduce the level of regulation at some of Australia’s bulk grain export facilities, the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ committed to monitoring the effects of deregulation in the industry.

Sugar

Sugar Code of Conduct

The sugar code regulates the actions of cane growers, mill owners and some sugar marketers. It covers contracts and agreements to supply sugar cane and on-supply sugar.

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Consultative committee

Agriculture Consultative Committee

The Agriculture Consultative Committee was established by the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ to provide advice and information on issues affecting the agriculture sector, within the scope of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Agriculture market studies

Agricultural machinery market study 2021

The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ has set out to gain a better understanding of how the agricultural machinery industry operates, while focusing on key issues that have come to our attention relating to manufacturer warranties, and servicing and repairs.

Cattle and beef market study 2016-17

In 2016-17 the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´â€™s Agriculture Unit conducted a market study of the cattle and beef sector. The market study examined competition, transparency and efficiency in cattle and beef supply chains.

Wine grape market study 2018-19

In 2018-19 the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´â€™s Agriculture Unit conducted a market study of the wine grape industry. The study examined competition, contracting practices, transparency, and risk allocation in wine grape supply chains.
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ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ action in the agriculture sector

Galati pays penalties for alleged Horticulture Code breaches

Western Australian horticulture wholesaler Galati has paid $62,600 in penalties after the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ issued it with four infringement notices for alleged contraventions of the Horticulture Code. The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ alleges that Galati breached the Code by trading with at least four growers without a horticulture produce agreement in place.
See media releases on the agriculture sector