Agriculture

Businesses remove unfair contract terms before new law

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s new report into potentially unfair contract terms details its review of 46 contracts across seven industries, which resulted in a range of businesses making changes to their small business standard form contracts.

The ACCC will begin enforcing the new law this week [Nov 12], when consumer protections against unfair contract terms are extended to include up to 2 million Australian small businesses.

ACCC releases issues paper for inquiry into the Australian dairy industry

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says its dairy industry inquiry will examine competition between milk processors, contracts between processors and farmers, global supply markets, and the profitability of dairy farms.

In its Dairy Inquiry Issues Paper published today, the ACCC has laid out the key issues it will look at as part of its 12-month inquiry which it has been directed to carry out by the Australian Government.

Cattle and beef study reveals price transparency issues and allegations of anti-competitive conduct: ACCC

The competitiveness of Australian beef and cattle markets could be improved by the adoption of objective carcase grading, improvements to the nature and coverage of market reporting, and the implementation of a range of measures to lessen the risk of collusive and anti-competitive behaviour in saleyard auctions.

These key recommendations come from a six-month study of Australian beef and cattle markets by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which has released its interim report today and is now seeking industry feedback.

ACCC Agriculture Unit - A year in review

In October 2015 the ACCC created an Agriculture Unit to examine competition and unfair trading issues in agricultural supply chains. This publication provides a summary of the work undertaken by the Unit in its first year.

ACCC report identifies competition and fair trading issues in horticulture and viticulture

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report into the competition and fair trading issues facing the horticulture and viticulture industries has identified a number of areas of concern, particularly about the Horticulture Code of Conduct.

“The report, which follows a series of workshops held around regional Australia, reflects the views of growers and the broader industries. Despite the diversity of markets in horticulture and viticulture, there were a number of common concerns,” ACCC Commissioner Mick Keogh said.

Key issues raised by stakeholders included:

Young Sang admits breaches of Horticulture Code of Conduct

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has accepted a court enforceable undertaking from a Melbourne-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler, Young Sang & Co. (Aust.) Pty Ltd (Young Sang), for breaches of the Horticulture Code of Conduct.

Young Sang admitted that it breached the Horticulture Code of Conduct in 2015 by trading in horticulture produce with a number of Queensland-based growers without:

ACCC in agriculture: a snapshot

A guide to assist small businesses and farmers understand the role of the ACCC Agriculture Unit.

ACCC in Agriculture: what you need to know

A guide to assist small businesses and farmers understand the Agriculture Unit's work and laws the ACCC administers relevant to agriculture.

How collective bargaining can benefit farmers and small businesses

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Deputy Chair Michael Schaper has today launched a new guide for small businesses and farmers on the potential benefits of collective bargaining.

A collective bargaining arrangement allows two or more competing businesses to jointly negotiate with a supplier or a customer over terms, conditions, and prices. Where the ACCC is satisfied that the arrangement provides an overall public benefit, it can allow conduct which may otherwise be prohibited by the Competition and Consumer Act.