New grain industry supply code revealed

After 18 months of consultation, a new code of practice has been released for the grain industry.

At the Australian Grains Industry Conference in Melbourne this morning, Grain Trade Australia (GTA) chairman Peter Reading launched the Code, saying it’ illustrated the industry'’s "willingness to embrace self-regulation".

The Code sets out common standards, operating procedures and documented processes for participants right along the grain supply chain.

Mr Reading said the industry had to have processes in place to ensure delivery of a quality product to the customer.

"We all understand the need for varietal testing and classification, development of trading standards, chemical use and tolerances, government export certification and contractual integrity, to name a few," he said. “"The original Code was developed as part of the wheat export deregulation process to detail sound industry practices, and was not prescriptive."

GTA aims to make the Code mandatory for all members from July 1 next year.