ACCC inquiry into grocery prices - Horticulture Code Issues Paper

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released an issues paper on the Horticulture Code of Conduct as part of its inquiry into grocery prices.

Under the inquiry the Government has instructed the ACCC to take into consideration all aspects of the supply chain in the grocery industry including the nature of competition at the supply, wholesale, and retail levels of the grocery industry to ensure consumers are getting a fair deal. 

"It also asked the ACCC to consider the effectiveness of the Horticulture Code of Conduct, and whether the inclusion of other major buyers such as retailers would improve the effectiveness of the Code," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.

"The Horticulture Code issues paper has now been published because the issues that have arisen in relation to the code to date during the inquiry are very specific.  The ACCC wants to ensure that industry participants have had an opportunity to comment on these issues.

"Interested parties are invited to make submissions to the ACCC in relation to the Horticulture Code and issues identified in the paper." 

Submissions in response to the Horticulture Code Issues Paper should be made to the ACCC by no later than 5 p.m., 10 June 2008.

A copy of the Horticulture Code Issues Paper and other information about the inquiry will be available on the ACCC website.

The inquiry is due to report to the Government by 31 July 2008.