The Moroccan Competition Council has announced that it is launching an investigation into certain pricing and non-pricing commercial practices within the poultry feed market and related sectors. This decision follows the conclusions of the Council’s Opinion No. A/3/24, dated September 26, 2024, which analyzed the state of competition in the compound feed market in Morocco.
The investigation aims to assess whether these practices align with the provisions of existing legislation governing price freedom and competition, the Acting General Rapporteur of the Competition Council said in a statement.
In its latest report, the Council identified significant competitive concerns within the poultry feed market, noting its high level of concentration. It also highlighted irregularities in related sectors, particularly the day-old chicks market. Together, poultry feed and day-old chicks make up nearly 75% of the production cost of broiler chickens, directly influencing the retail price of chicken and, in turn, impacting consumers.
The investigation is part of the Competition Council’s constitutional and legislative mandate to regulate market competition and protect consumer interests, particularly in essential goods that heavily influence purchasing power.
However, the Council emphasized that this action is purely procedural and does not yet indicate the existence of anti-competitive practices.
“At this stage, this is merely a procedural act,” the Council stated. “It does not prejudge the existence of anti-competitive practices in the concerned markets. Only the Council’s deliberative bodies can, after a thorough and transparent investigation that respects the defense rights of the parties involved, determine the validity of the practices, should the investigation reveal their existence.”
This investigation is seen as a step toward ensuring fair competition in the poultry sector and safeguarding consumers from potential price distortions that could affect their purchasing power.
Source: Morocco World News
