Unit Pricing Code: What businesses need to know

New rules for grocery retailers

The Unit Pricing Code came into effect on 1 July 2009; however retailers have a grace period of five months to comply with the new regulations. The code becomes enforceable on 1 December 2009.

The objective of the code is to allow consumers to quickly compare the price and value of similar types of products when shopping for groceries.

The code makes it compulsory for large grocery retailers, those that operate online, and businesses that voluntarily opt into the scheme to display unit pricing information on grocery price labels and in print and web advertising for all non-exempt grocery items.

Publications and resources for businesses

We have produced the following guidance materials to assist businesses to comply with the code.

• Unit pricing: a quick guide is designed to provide general information about the Code and help you to identify whether it applies to your business.
• Unit pricing: a guide for grocery retailers provides more comprehensive guidance on complying with the requirements of the code.
• Our Unit Pricing Code web pages also explain the requirements of the code and provide a link to the regulations.

If you would like to be kept up-to-date with developments on the Unit Pricing Code, please email a completed Unit Pricing Code Information Network form to unitpricing@accc.cgov.au.

Unit Pricing Hotline

If you are a business and have any questions about the code, whether it applies to you or your obligations under it please call our Unit Pricing Hotline on 1300 746 245.

Information for consumers

We have also produced a new Unit pricing page in the "For consumers" section of our website to provide information to consumers on what the new code means for them.