Competition Council to examine red meat sector, opinion expected next year

Morocco’s Competition Council is preparing to launch a review of the country’s red meat and livestock sector as part of its mandate to monitor markets and assess competition across key economic sectors.

According to Hespress AR sources, the council has included the opinion in its work program, although officials expect the process to take considerable time given the complexity of the sector, the number of stakeholders involved and the breadth of issues to be examined.

Sources said the council has not yet formally begun work on the opinion. Instead, it plans to prepare a scoping paper by the end of this year before deciding whether to officially open the investigation at the beginning of 2027.

Under the council’s procedures, a rapporteur first drafts a framework document outlining the issues to be examined, the scope of the review and the main research questions.

The document is then submitted to council members for discussion and approval before a formal decision is taken to launch the opinion.

Once approved, rapporteurs begin collecting data, consulting stakeholders and analyzing market information before preparing a final report for adoption by the council.

Despite concerns raised in Parliament over the suspension of the Interprofessional Federation for Red Meat after its president was imprisoned and its executive bureau ceased operating, council sources said the situation would not hinder the institution’s work.

The parliamentary working group tasked with evaluating the Green Morocco Plan had previously identified the federation’s inactivity as an obstacle, given its central role in the sector.

However, the Competition Council said it intends to consult all relevant professional federations and organizations involved in the red meat industry, as well as other stakeholders, once the review officially begins.

The council stressed that the absence of any single professional body would not prevent it from completing its work.

According to the sources, the review will follow a broad consultative approach involving the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, companies operating in the sector, industry professionals and other stakeholders across the red meat production and marketing chain.

The council said it would continue its investigation using all legal and institutional mechanisms at its disposal, including gathering information and expertise from available stakeholders, even if some organizations are unable to participate in consultation sessions.