The Food and Grocery Code (Code) is a voluntary code prescribed under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA) and was introduced to improve business conduct standards.

The Code is overseen by the Independent Code Reviewer (Reviewer), more information about the Reviewer and the current signatories to the Code can be found here.

As a supplier you have the right to choose the dispute resolution process that works best for you. You may wish to seek professional advice to assist in deciding which of the following dispute resolution processes are suitable for your circumstances.

Under the Code, if you have a dispute, you may try to raise it with the retailer or wholesaler directly. Suppliers can also:

• Raise a complaint with a Code Arbiter.
• Seek mediation or arbitration of your dispute.
• Ask the Reviewer to review the Code Arbiter’s process in investigating and resolving your complaint (if after you have raised a complaint with a Code Arbiter, you are not satisfied with the outcome).

For more information about these options refer to the ACCC website.

For further information about how to lodge a dispute or to find out further information about the Code then please follow the link to the Reviewer’s website.

The purpose of the dispute resolution process under the Code is to help resolve your complaint in a timely and cost-effective manner.  However, this does not prevent you from taking your own legal action or lodging a complaint directly with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for an alleged breach of the Code or other provisions in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Further guidance for suppliers is available on the ACCC website.

Our Office can also help parties in dispute outside of this Code by guiding them through a dispute resolution process and offering assistance with alternative dispute resolution services.