The Competition Commission of South Africa (Commission) continues to receive submissions from relevant stakeholders and interested parties on the draft terms of reference (ToRs) for the Poultry Market Inquiry (PMI).
The Commission encourages stakeholders and interested parties to send submissions to pmi@compcom.co.za by no later than 16:00 on 15 March 2024.
Competition Commission spokesman Siyabulela Makunga, said the PMI has been established in terms of section 43B(1)(a) of the Competition Act 89 of 1998 (as amended) (the “Act”) as the Commission has reason to believe there are features in the poultry value chain that may impede, distort or restrict competition or undermine the purposes of the Act, and which have material implications for the country’s poultry industry, and ultimately consumers.
“The draft ToRs for the PMI, gazetted on 06 February 2024, can be viewed on the Commission’s website here.”
The poultry value chain includes the production and supply of poultry feed, the supply and rearing of grandparent and parent stock, the production and supply of day-old broiler chicks and layer pullets (day- old chick reared for commercial egg production), the rearing of broilers to produce chicken meat products, the rearing of point-of-lay hens to produce commercial eggs, the processing (abattoirs) and marketing activities of poultry products.
Poultry products are sold through retail channels to consumers and wholesale channels to the restaurant and catering industry and other food companies.
Makunga said all submissions will be reviewed, and a final Terms of Reference published by the Commission.
The PMI will commenced 20 business days after the publication of the final Terms of Reference and the final report is expected to 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.
