What the ACCC does

  • We regulate the industry codes that are prescribed by law in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the Water Act 2007.
  • We give guidance to industries wanting to develop their own voluntary code.

What the ACCC can't do

  • We don’t draft or enforce industry-led codes of conduct.
  • We don’t provide advice to businesses on whether their documents or practices comply with a code.

Prescribed mandatory codes

You must follow the code if you meet the criteria in the code. The ACCC administers these codes and enforces them under legislation.

Dairy Code of Conduct

The dairy code regulates conduct between dairy farmers and milk processors. Under the code all raw milk must be bought from dairy farmers under a milk supply agreement that complies with the code.

Electricity Retail Code

The code is for electricity retailers and sets a maximum price for certain electricity offers. It also forms a reference price for marketing activities.

Food and Grocery Code of Conduct

The Food and Grocery Code of Conduct is a mandatory code to regulate the conduct of large grocery businesses towards their suppliers.

Franchising Code of Conduct

The franchising code has obligations for franchisors and franchisees. If you're thinking about buying a franchise, it’s important that you understand whether it's right for you.

Gas Market Code

The code contains a number of requirements for suppliers and aims to ensure the domestic wholesale gas market supplies adequate gas at reasonable prices and on reasonable terms for both suppliers and buyers.

Oil Code of Conduct

Wholesale suppliers and fuel resellers have rights and responsibilities under the code. It covers supply, sale and purchase of declared petroleum products, like unleaded petrol and diesel.

Sugar Code of Conduct

The sugar code regulates the actions of cane growers, mill owners and some sugar marketers. It covers contracts and agreements to supply sugar cane and on-supply sugar.

Unit Pricing Code

Businesses need to comply with the Unit Pricing Code if they sell certain food-based grocery items. Grocery retailers must display unit prices so that consumers can make informed choices.

Wheat Port Code of Conduct

The wheat port code regulates the conduct of port terminal service providers. It seeks to ensure that exporters of bulk wheat have fair and transparent access to port terminal services.

Water Markets Intermediaries Code

The Water Markets Intermediaries Code and trust accounting requirements regulate the conduct of intermediaries towards clients. They also regulate how intermediaries set up and manage trust accounts and tradeable water rights.

Industry code compliance checks

The ACCC can require businesses that are covered by a prescribed industry code to provide information or documents they're required to keep, generate or publish.

Non-prescribed voluntary codes

Some codes of conduct are created by industry as a way to self-regulate. Industry participants can choose to sign up to these codes.

Industry-led codes

An industry-led code of conduct sets standards for how an industry deals with its members and customers. Industry-led codes are a form of self-regulation and are voluntary.

ACCC action on industry codes

Galati pays penalties for alleged Horticulture Code breaches

Western Australian horticulture wholesaler Galati has paid $62,600 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with four infringement notices for alleged contraventions of the Horticulture Code. The ACCC alleges that Galati breached the Code by trading with at least four growers without a horticulture produce agreement in place.
See media releases on industry codes