The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission invites submissions from interested parties in the bulk wheat export industry on Viterra’s application to extend and vary its 2011 Port Terminal Services Access Undertaking.
The ACCC accepted Viterra’s undertaking on 28 September 2011, which provides access for third party exporters to Viterra’s port terminal services for bulk wheat export at six of its ports terminals in South Australia.
Viterra’s undertaking is due to expire on 30 September 2014, when a mandatory code of conduct may govern access to bulk wheat ports. The mandatory code has not yet been finalised.
Viterra has applied to the ACCC to extend the operation of the undertaking to 30 September 2015 to obtain greater certainty for both itself and exporters, pending the possible introduction of a mandatory industry code.
In addition to the application to extend the undertaking, Viterra is also seeking to vary a number of existing provisions.
The ACCC is assessing Viterra’s application in accordance with the criteria in Part IIIA of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
The ACCC has published an Issues Paper outlining Viterra’s major changes. The closing date for submissions is 20 September 2013.
The Issues Paper and other relevant documents are available at www.accc.gov.au/wheat.