Dairy farmers applaud grocery code report

EastAUSmilk has praised the interim review of Australia’s Food and Grocery Code.

Joe Bradley, chair of the eastAUSmilk board, said the review adopted the two key proposals from eastAUSmilk — that the code must be mandatory, and that it must address the issue of supermarket retaliation against suppliers.

“Without these two changes, the Food and Grocery Code would have remained ineffective and ignored,” he said.

The interim report was released on Monday, April 8 and Dr Emerson’s final recommendations will be handed down by the end of June.

McPherson Media Group, Dairy News Australia, 10 April 2024.

Read the full article here.

Food & Grocery Code Under Review

Not for the first time, and in the face of many recommendations to make it mandatory, the Commonwealth government is reviewing the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.

Unlike the dairy code, the F&G code is not mandatory, and therefore can’t be enforced.

This code is important for dairy farmers, because if it was made mandatory, it could regulate the relationship between the big supermarkets and their suppliers, including milk processors.

The independent review, headed by former Minister in the Rudd and Gillard Governments Hon Dr Craig Emerson, is examining whether the F&G Code is effective and how it could better serve Australian families and farmers.

While the government wants to use this review to demonstrate they are addressing cost of living pressures, they have also said it is not about reducing farm gate prices. They have said the review will look at whether the Code is ensuring that both suppliers and consumers are getting a fair deal.

eastAUSmilk encourages members to read the discussion paper and make a submission, and will itself be making a submission.

If you make a submission, please let us know what you said. To have your say or become involved in the public consultation process, go Food and Grocery Code of Conduct Review 2023

Submissions close on 29 February 2024.