Finding the balance between protecting your business interests and complying with Australia’s competition laws

On March 25 2022, the Australian Federal Court ordered Australasian Food Group to pay a AUD$12 million penalty for anti-competitive conduct in relation to the distribution of its single-serve ice cream products. This recent decision serves as a reminder of the various competition law restrictions that could impact the way that a business protects its brand or deals with its supply chain partners. This article examines the various restrictions that apply to dealings within the supply chain under Australia’s competition laws and the practical steps that a business can consider to avoid inadvertently breaching these laws.