The Mauritius Competition Commission (Commission) has launched a formal market study into the poultry sector, which is strategically important to the country, both as a contributor to domestic agricultural output and as a primary source of protein for consumers. Recent increases in the prices of chicken and eggs, alongside broader cost pressures, have drawn the Commission’s attention.
This market inquiry follows the Commission’s April 2026 inquiry into the private healthcare sector (see our newsflashes here and here). The Poultry Market Study (PMS) is initiated in terms of section 30(a) and (h) of the Competition Act 2007, which empowers the executive director of the Commission to review conditions of competition in markets and undertake general studies on the effectiveness of competition in individual sectors of the economy.
The Commission has published draft terms of reference for comment by 31 August 2026,  on its website here. The PMS will examine the structure of, and conduct in, the poultry supply chain, including farming, production, and the supply of chicken meat and eggs. It will also consider pricing practices and commercial arrangements between large producers and smaller operators. In particular, the study will:
- assess market structure and the potential presence of market power across the value chain;
- evaluate commercial agreements between large integrated producers and independent contract growers, including pricing and supply of key inputs, to identify any anticompetitive effects;
- identify barriers to entry and expansion arising from market features or the regulatory framework; and
- develop recommendations to strengthen competition in the sector.
Importantly, the Commission has stressed that the launch of the market study does not indicate any finding of anti-competitive conduct by any operator.
The remainder of 2026 will focus on stakeholder engagement and information gathering. A preliminary report is expected by the end of March 2027, followed by a public consultation phase. The final report is scheduled for publication in June 2027.
Geographical context
There has been increasing scrutiny of competition in poultry and related input markets by authorities in Africa recently. Common themes include high levels of concentration and vertical integration, as well as concerns regarding pricing, input costs and barriers to entry. More specifically, in:
- Zambia, a market inquiry and related investigations highlighted increases in the prices of key inputs such as feed and day-old chicks and examined the position of vertically integrated firms.
- Kenya, an animal feed market inquiry found a concentrated upstream market, with input costs contributing significantly to higher downstream prices.
- South Africa, the Competition Commission’s poultry market inquiry (announced in 2025, but yet to get underway) is likely to examine similar issues, as well as public interest concerns like factors affecting participation by historically disadvantaged persons and small businesses in the poultry value chain.
