A recent report from the Moroccan Public Prosecution showed there has been a significant increase in cases related to crimes affecting price freedom and competition in 2023, reaching a total of 4,134 cases, representing a rise of 1,551 cases compared to 2022, or an increase of 60%.
The report from the Public Prosecution’s office revealed that the number of individuals prosecuted for violations of Law No. 104-12, which governs price freedom and competition, also rose substantially, with 416 individuals prosecuted, marking an approximate 58% increase over the previous year.
The report further highlighted that nearly 99% of the total records submitted to the public prosecutors were followed by legal action, demonstrating that initiating criminal proceedings is the most common response to these cases.
Only 12 records were archived, constituting less than 1% of the total. This trend signals the Public Prosecution’s commitment to enforcing the law concerning all competition-related violations referred to it by various agencies and authorities.
Regarding consumer protection, the report revealed that the number of records processed under Law No. 31-08, which defines measures for consumer protection, also increased significantly in 2023.
A total of 4,691 records were handled, with only a 1% archiving rate. The number of individuals prosecuted under this law also surged by approximately 45%, totaling 3,151 individuals, up from 2,173 in 2022.
The report emphasized that, like competition-related cases, most of the consumer protection cases led to criminal proceedings, with only 52 records being archived.
The Public Prosecution underscored that consumer protection is essential for balancing economic freedom with safeguarding consumer rights, pointing to the law as a necessary tool for regulating markets and ensuring fairness.
It further emphasized the importance of applying strict penalties when the legal criteria for initiating criminal action are met, reaffirming its commitment to upholding the legal frameworks in place.
