ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued a show-cause notice to the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) for prima facie violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2010.

CCP took notice of a series of advertisements published in various daily newspapers by the PPA regarding prices of (a) live broiler chicken, (b) broiler chicken meat (collectively boiler chicken) and (c) chicken eggs.

The CCP said that from the advertisements, it appeared that PPA has prima facie taken a decision as a trade association to fix the prices of boiler chicken and chicken eggs which has the object and/or effect of preventing, restricting or reducing competition within the relevant markets of broiler chicken and chicken eggs in Pakistan, respectively.

Decisions by trade associations related to pricing, production, and sale are prohibited under Section 4 of the Act.

Through the show-cause notice, PPA has been asked to respond in writing within fourteen days and to avail an opportunity of being heard before CCP on 3 December 2015.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2015