Rabat – Morocco’s Competition Council launched an investigation into potential violations of sardine market competition standards.
The council’s interim general rapporteur said in a statement on Tuesday that preliminary investigations revealed the potential existence of a “price agreement” among certain economic operators in the sardine supply market.
“This agreement is likely to distort free competition in the relevant market and harm consumer interests,” the council said, vowing to take measures to examine the competitive functioning of the relevant market.
The council recalled Moroccan Law 104-12 relating to price freedom and competition, emphasizing that actions, agreements, arrangements, and coalitions are prohibited whether explicit or implicit.
Quoting Article 6 of the same law, the council says that such acts distort free competition in a market, particularly when they aim to limit access to the market or the free exercise of competition by other enterprises. Additionally, such acts can obstruct the formation of prices within a free market by artificially favoring their increase or decrease.
In addition to the sardine market, the council also announced plans to launch an investigation into reports of potential price increases at cafes across the country.
Preliminary findings from the council’s services suggest that certain cafe owners and managers are contemplating raising the prices of beverages served, which could constitute anti-competitive behavior.
The council is an independent institution in charge of safeguarding and promoting competition in Morocco’s market.
