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South Africa: Fresh produce markets charged with price-fixing

By  |  October 12, 2017

The Competition Commission has recommended that the Competition Tribunal prosecute the Institute for Market Agents of SA and 14 of its members on charges of price fixing and/or fixing trading conditions in the fresh-produce market.

The action comes as a result of a complaint by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on behalf of previously disadvantaged market agents. The department alleges that agents who act as intermediaries between farmers and buyers of fresh produce are involved in anticompetitive behavior, preventing previously disadvantaged market agents from competing effectively.

The Commission said on Wednesday, October 11, its recommendation followed search and seizure operations it conducted at the premises of the agents in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban in March.

It said the agents had either agreed to or had engaged “in a concerted practice to charge farmers the same commission fee when selling their fresh produce to customers”.

Full Content: Fin 24

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