The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted interim authorisation to allow Agsafe Limited to continue to enforce its Accreditation and Training Program for the agvet chemicals industry.
The program aims to ensure the safe storage, handling and transport of agricultural and veterinary chemicals from the place of manufacture through to the point of sale.
Interim authorisation will avoid unnecessary disruption to the industry while the ACCC undertakes its public assessment of an application to re-authorise the program. It allows Agsafe to retain the power to impose trading sanctions on persons and premises that do not comply with the rules of the program.
The ACCC has sought submissions on the application from interested parties.
Further information about the application is available on the ACCC's public register at www.accc.gov.au/AuthorisationsRegister.
Interim authorisation commences immediately, and remains in place until the date that the ACCC's final determination comes into effect or unless revoked.
The ACCC may review its decision on interim authorisation at any time. The ACCC's decision in relation to interim authorisation should not be taken to be indicative of whether or not final authorisation will be granted.
Authorisation provides immunity from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974.
Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment. The ACCC conducts a comprehensive public consultation process and issues a draft determination before making a decision to grant or deny authorisation.