The Federal Government’s proposed mandatory horticulture code of conduct risks encouraging anti-competitive

behaviour if it does not apply across the entire horticulture industry, the Central Markets

Association of Australia (CMAA) said today.

The code is being introduced by the Government following a grower-led call for a mandatory code of

conduct for the fruit and vegetable industry.

However growers across Australia believe the code should apply across the entire sector, not only to those

wholesalers operating from the central markets.

In a recent survey conducted by Roy Morgan Research commissioned by the Brisbane Markets, 72 per cent

of respondents strongly agreed major retail market chains should be governed by the proposed code.

"If the Government decides to only regulate the central markets, they will be handing a competitive

advantage to the major retailers in this country and the ability to peruse an even greater slice of the market

than they already enjoy," said Andrew Young, CMAA spokesperson.