You may be required to comply with this industry code if you are a grocery or supermarket retailer or wholesaler. The Code is voluntary and only applies to retailers or wholesalers that have elected to be bound by the Code by giving written notice to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The aim of the Code is to govern retailer and wholesaler conduct with suppliers and provide more contractual certainty in trading relations, encourage the better sharing of risk and reduce inappropriate use of market power across the value chain.
The Code has rules relating to areas such as:
- grocery supply agreements
- payments
- termination of agreements
- dispute resolution provisions including a retailer's complaints process, mediation, arbitration, legal avenues or the ACCC.