Australian grain industry adopts new code of conduct

Grain Trade Australia (GTA) announced Monday (Nov 2) the release of an Australian Grain Industry Code of Conduct that will guide the industry to best practice and transparency in transactions along the grains supply chain.

GTA said it would oversee the code's release and evaluate its performance on an annual basis. The code, which is voluntary, focuses on the transactions and processes relating to the buying and selling of grain and applies to all commodities and all forms of packaging.

Currently, eight grains industry organisations have signed up to the code with more expected to follow, GTA said. Tom Keene, GTA chairman, said the code had been designed to improve the transparency and clarity of transactions regarding the buying and selling of grain as well as enhance the behaviour of industry participants.

The code will also serve to improve stakeholder and customer confidence in the Australian grain industry, a key challenge for the industry following changes to wheat marketing arrangements, said Keene.