On 2 March 2018, the then Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, the Hon. Michael Sukkar MP released the terms of reference for the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (the code) review and announced that Prof. Graeme Samuel AC had been selected as the independent expert to lead the review. The review was intended to ensure that the code was working effectively as the first prescribed voluntary code under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The code regulates the conduct of those supermarket retailers and wholesalers that have agreed to be bound by the code in their dealings with suppliers. Upon introduction of the code in 2014, Government also committed to review the code three years from its commencement. This requirement is prescribed in the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes – Food and Grocery) Regulation 2015.
Final report consultation
The independent review has now been completed. The final report was released on 30 October 2018 by the Government for public consultation, closing 28 November 2018.