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Rabat – The research and investigation services of the Competition Council conducted on Tuesday unexpected visits and seizures at several companies operating in the national medical supplies market.
The council said in a statement it carried out the visits after suspicions of anti-competitive practices in the medical supplies sector.
Authorities acted with a judicial warrant from the Public Prosecutor, and were supported by officers from the National Judicial Police during the operations, in accordance with Article 72 of Law No. 104.12 on Free Pricing and Competition, as amended.
The Council clarified that conducting these visits does not mean the suspected anti-competitive practices have been proven, nor that the companies involved are guilty. Investigation units are still collecting information.
Only the formal decision-making bodies of the Competition Council can determine whether practices violate competition rules, after a full investigation and a fair process that respects legal defense rights, added the statement.
The Competition Council said it will not disclose the companies’ names or details about the suspected practices at this time, out of respect for their rights.
The Competition Council is an independent constitutional body in Morocco that enforces competition rules, prevents unfair market behavior and reviews major market changes such as mergers.
The legal framework for competition in Morocco is mainly set by Law No. 104.12 on Free Pricing and Competition, originally adopted in 2014.
This law prohibits practices that may prevent, restrict or distort competition, such as price-fixing, market sharing, limiting production, and other collusive behavior. It also obliges companies to notify the Council of certain economic concentrations before they happen.
Under the law, investigators have the authority to enter business premises, review records, and collect evidence when there are reasonable grounds to suspect anti-competitive conduct.
These surprise visits and seizures are legal tools designed to help gather information quickly and effectively at the location where activities are occurring.
