THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced consultation on Viterra's proposed wheat port access arrangements for October 2011 to September 2014.
Viterra's proposed undertaking relates to the provision of access to services for the export of bulk wheat at six grain terminals operated by Viterra in South Australia.
These terminals are: Port Adelaide, Inner Harbour; Port Adelaide, Outer Harbour; Port Giles; Wallaroo; Port Lincoln, and Thevenard.
Viterra is required to have access arrangements in place by 1 October 2011 to retain accreditation to export bulk wheat under the Wheat Export Marketing Act 2008.
The ACCC accepted an access undertaking from Viterra on 29 September 2009 for the two years until 30 September 2011. Viterra has now submitted a proposed access undertaking for the period from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2014.
Viterra's proposed undertaking provides for, amongst other matters:
- publication of price and non-price terms for standard services
- non-discriminatory access
- negotiation of access in good faith
- arbitration of access disputes
- publication of key port information.
The ACCC is assessing the proposed undertaking in accordance with the criteria under Part IIIA of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
An ACCC issues paper and Viterra's proposed undertaking and supporting submission is available on the ACCC website, www.accc.gov.au/wheat. Submissions from interested parties are invited by 4 March 2011.
