Commission invites comments on draft ToRs on the poultry industry value chain
13 Feb 2024
The Competition Commission (Commission) will conduct a market inquiry into the poultry industry value chain as it has reason to believe there are features in the poultry market that may impede, distort or restrict competition. The draft Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the Poultry Market Inquiry (PMI) were gazetted on 06 February 2024.
The Commission now invites members of the public and interested stakeholders to make written submissions on the proposed ToRs by no later than 16:00 on 08 March 2024. The draft ToRs for the PMI is now available on the Commission’s website here. Written submissions can be sent to [email protected]. All submissions will be reviewed, and a final Terms of Reference published by the Commission.
The PMI has been established in terms of section 43B(1)(a) of the Competition Act 89 of 1998 (as amended) (the “Act”), and will also examine the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs) in the poultry industry value chain.
“Market outcomes in the poultry industry matter as chicken meat and eggs are a key source of protein for the majority of South Africans, and particularly low-income households,” said Chief Economist James Hodge. “A poultry market inquiry into the concentrated and integrated structure of the industry can complement other initiatives to improve the competitiveness of the industry to the benefit of consumers and smaller participants.”
The PMI will commence 20 business days after the publication of the final Terms of Reference and the final report will be completed within 18 months, as per the statutory requirements of sections 43B (2) and 43B(4)(a) of the Act respectively.
Details on the administrative phases of the inquiry along with Guidelines for Participation will be made available on the Commission’s website once the final Terms of Reference are published.
At that point, members of the public and businesses will be invited to provide written representations and information to the inquiry.
Article sourced from the Competition Commission South Africa.
See also:
- Commission publishes final terms of reference for the fresh produce market inquiry
- Competition Commission draws up public interest guidelines on merger control
- Final Guidelines on the Exchange of Competitively Sensitive Information has been published
- Price fixing under the Competition Act
