Agriculture

Lactalis Australia in court for alleged Dairy Code breaches

The ACCC has instituted Federal Court proceedings against Lactalis Australia Pty Ltd (Lactalis) for alleged breaches of the Dairy Code of Conduct (the Code). This is the first time the ACCC has commenced proceedings for alleged breaches of the Code.

Lactalis is one of Australia’s largest dairy processors and purchases milk from over 400 dairy farmers across all Australian states. The company produces a wide range of dairy products across a number of brands including Pauls, Oak, Vaalia and Ice Break.

Brownes Dairy pays penalties for alleged breaches of Dairy Code

Brownes Foods Operations Pty Ltd (Brownes Dairy) has paid penalties totalling $22,200 after the ACCC issued it with two infringement notices for allegedly failing to comply with the Dairy Code of Conduct last year.

The Dairy Code requires most dairy processors to publish on their websites, on 1 June each year, standard form milk supply agreements to cover all the circumstances in which they intend to purchase milk in the coming financial year on their websites. This allows farmers to compare processors’ minimum prices and contract terms.

ACCC to scrutinise dairy code compliance as 1 June deadline approaches

The ACCC is urging dairy farmers and processors to be aware of their rights and obligations under the Dairy Code of Conduct ahead of the 1 June deadline for publishing next financial year’s milk supply agreements.

The mandatory code requires most dairy processors to publish standard form milk supply agreements to cover all the circumstances in which they intend to purchase milk in the coming financial year on their websites by 2pm on 1 June. This allows farmers to compare processors’ minimum prices and contract terms. 

Bulk grain ports monitoring report 2019-20

Report into the bulk grain port export activity for the shipping year 2019-20.

ACCC proposes to authorise 'Fair Go Dairy' licensing scheme

The ACCC is proposing to authorise the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation Limited’s (QDO) Fair Go Dairy licensing scheme for five years.

Under the scheme, QDO will grant processors a licence to use the ‘Fair Go Dairy’ logo on qualifying dairy products.

Qualifying dairy products must contain at least 80 per cent unprocessed milk that was produced by Queensland dairy cows and purchased from a Queensland dairy farmer for a price not less than a “sustainable and fair” price calculated by QDO.