Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (now mandatory)
Major supermarkets bound by mandatory Code with civil penalties from April 2025.
Who must comply
Major supermarkets above threshold + their suppliers.
What triggers it
Mandatory commencement April 2025.
When due
Continuous.
Evidence required
Code-compliant supplier agreements; dispute resolution records; ACCC + Code Reviewer engagement.
Max penalty
Civil penalties up to ~$10M for serious code breaches
Effective from
1 April 2025
Who must comply with this? The applicability test by industry, business structure and size.
Summary
Food and Grocery Code of Conduct mandatory from April 2025 (was voluntary). Applies to Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Metcash (above turnover thresholds). Sets supplier protections, retaliation prohibitions + ACCC complaint pathway. Civil penalties up to $10M for serious breaches.
Enforced by
Source legislation
Industries
Topics
Related
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Frequently asked questions
- Who must comply with Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (now mandatory)?
- Major supermarkets above threshold + their suppliers.
- What triggers Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (now mandatory)?
- Mandatory commencement April 2025.
- When is Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (now mandatory) due?
- Continuous.
- What is the maximum penalty for Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (now mandatory)?
- Civil penalties up to ~$10M for serious code breaches
- What evidence is required for Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (now mandatory)?
- Code-compliant supplier agreements; dispute resolution records; ACCC + Code Reviewer engagement.
Source: https://accc.gov.au/business/industry-codes/food-and-grocery-code-of-conduct. Rules Mate is not a law firm. Always verify against the live regulator source before acting.