Coles and Brownes Penalized for Breaching Australia's Dairy Code, Impacting Dairy Farmers
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has penalized major retailer Coles and dairy processor Brownes for breaches of the country's dairy code of conduct. Each company has been fined A$39,600 for separate alleged contraventions. Coles was found to have published milk-supply agreements requiring exclusive supply and imposing volume caps, while Brownes failed to clearly set out minimum prices in its agreements. The ACCC emphasized the importance of transparency in supply terms and prices to protect dairy farmers' interests. The penalties highlight ongoing regulatory efforts to ensure fair practices in the dairy industry. 
