Moroccan Watchdog Investigates 20-Year Sardine Market Cartel

On Thursday, the Competition Council initiated an inquiry aimed at assessing whether there have been any instances of suspected anti-competitive behavior within the industrial sardine supply sector.

“As outlined by the Constitution, along with Laws No. 20-13 concerning the Competition Council and No. 104-12 regarding price freedom and competition – which have been revised and expanded – the aim being to manage marketplace competition and safeguard consumers’ rights, the Competition Council has launched an inquiry into possible anti-competitive actions within the industrial sardine supply sector,” said a statement from the Council’s general rapporteur.

The investigative efforts conducted at the direction of the Council’s instruction and inquiry units have amassed enough proof indicating the presence of anti-competitive pacts between various entities within the industrial sardine supply sector.

The reported purpose of these accords was to limit competition within the industry for two decades. They specifically entailed colluding to set initial sale prices for canned sardines—distorting fair-market price mechanisms through artificial inflation or reduction—and coordinating output levels and production caps, thereby curtailing market entry opportunities and stifling competitive activities from other entities.

As such, the overall ombudsman from the Competition Council mentioned that, consistent with Article 29 of Act Number 104-12, formal complaints have been submitted to 15 professional bodies suspected of participating in these activities. The entities implicated encompass shipping companies, facilities focused on transforming fish through industrial processes, as well as retailers acquiring marine goods at their initial sale for subsequent commercial dispersal.

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