Australian Engineered Stone Advisory Group (AESAG)

The applicants are Australian Engineered Stone Advisory Group (AESAG) whose members comprise of suppliers of engineered stone. AESAG’s current members are Caesarstone Australia Pty Ltd, Smartstone Australia Pty Ltd and WK Marble & Granite Pty Ltd, who supply approximately 77% of engineered stone in Australia.

AESAG sought authorisation for 10 years on behalf of itself, future members and other suppliers of engineered stone to:

• adopt industry accreditation standards for fabricators and stonemasons (Fabricators) working with engineered stone (Accreditation Standards),
• seek to require Fabricators, to whom Members supply engineered stone, to comply with health and safety practices under the "model" work health and safety (WHS) laws when working with the engineered stone in order to achieve accreditation, and
• consider whether to refuse to supply engineered stone where Fabricators do not meet the Accreditation Standards (Proposed Conduct).

The ACCC undertook a public consultation process on the applications for authorisation and interim authorisation. On 7 February 2020 AESAG withdrew its request for interim authorisation.  On 27 February 2020 AESAG withdrew its application for authorisation. AESAG’s letter to the ACCC advising of the withdrawal of the application is below under ‘Applications’.