WINDHOEK: The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has completed investigations on Namib Mills for allegedly refusing to supply poultry products to small and medium enterprises.

The commission received complaints that the company refuses to sell poultry products including chicken liver, gizzards, meat, eggs and chicken necks to SMEs, saying it has a permanent buyer for those products.

In an exclusive interview with Nampa recently, NaCC analyst, Lovisa Nghishe said the investigation has been complete and handed to the commission board for a decision.

However, the analyst could not divulge much on the recommendations in the report.

‘Depending on what is approved or disapproved, the board will avail the investigation results to the public. Concerning complaints raised on the high pricing of poultry, the commission will make a determination that will be presented to the board and will be shared after approval,’ she noted without indicating the time frame when the report will be released.

In terms of resear
ch function, the NACC through the investigation division carries out research as mandated by the Competition Act, she said.

NaCC’s research process is one that follows more or less the academic principle of research.

‘The investigation entails that Namib Mills has allegedly refused to sell poultry products including chicken liver, gizzards, meat, eggs and chicken necks to SMEs. No exact date has been established for when the investigation results will be shared by the commission board,’ Nghishe said.

The commission is urging SMEs to make use of the commission to report unfair competition. It is important for SMEs to capacitate themselves with the knowledge of competition which is something that should come from the recommendation from the competition to try and advocate directly to create competition awareness, Nghishe added.

In another interview with Nampa, NaCC Senior Researcher, Taimi Amunkete said the commission carried out a study on the private health sector this year and this medical investigation
has been completed. It has been handed over to the commission board as well and further public information will be communicated in due time, the researcher said.

Amunkete said the study sought to better understand the operations of the sector, the position of the commission in light of the judgement in the NACC/Namibian Association of Medical Aid Funds case, as well as to understand cost drivers in the sector.

The division has further embarked on two new studies, one being the review of the merger notification thresholds and filing fees.

‘This is a study that seeks to review the current threshold and propose the appropriate merger thresholds relevant to satisfy the provisions on the Competition Act, provide for the prescription of merger notification thresholds based on internationally accepted criteria and principles, provide and review existing merger filing fees, and subsequently provide revised merger filing fees in line with current economic conditions as well as the needs of the commission,’ Amunkete
said.

The other is the impact assessment into the piggery market following the merger in 2017 of two large players. This study seeks to assess how markets have evolved post-merger and look at the level of competition in the market post-merger looking at the level of competition, entry, import, export and the involvement of smaller producers, Amunkete said.
Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)