New mandatory code of conduct for Australian grocery retailers and wholesalers now in force

Date: 3 April 2025
Source:  Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

The Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (Code), prescribed under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), is now mandatory for Australia’s largest supermarkets and grocery wholesalers. This change took effect on 1 April 2025, shifting the Code from a previously voluntary system to a compulsory requirement.

The mandatory Code applies to all retailers and wholesalers that earned over $5 billion from their supermarket or grocery wholesaling business in the previous financial year. It establishes clear rules for how these businesses negotiate and contract with their suppliers, requiring them to:

• have written supply agreements in place;
• act lawfully and in good faith towards suppliers; and
• ensure suppliers do not face retribution for exercising their rights under the Code.

Failure to comply can result in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issuing infringement notices and taking court action with significant penalties for breaches.

To support enforcement, the ACCC has also launched a new online portal where people can anonymously report potential violations of the Code.

For further information, see the ACCC’s....