Moroccan competition authorities have launched surprise raids on companies operating in the medical device market amid suspicions of anti-competitive practices.
The investigations, conducted on February 17, 2026, involved unannounced visits and seizures of documents at multiple entities involved in the sale and distribution of medical devices. The actions were authorized by the King’s Prosecutor and carried out with the assistance of judicial police officers from the National Brigade of the Judicial Police, in accordance with Article 72 of Law No. 104-12 concerning freedom of prices and competition, as amended.
Officials emphasized that the raids do not indicate any presumption of guilt on the part of the companies involved. The Moroccan Competition Council stated that only its deliberative bodies can determine whether any wrongdoing occurred, following a thorough investigation that respects the rights of all parties. This case highlights the Council’s commitment to enforcing fair competition within the medical device sector.
To protect the rights of the companies being investigated, the Council declined to comment on the identities of the firms or the specific practices under scrutiny.
According to Article 16 of Law No. 20-13 concerning the Competition Council, the Council has investigation and inquiry services responsible for investigating practices that violate free price and competition laws, as well as overseeing economic concentration operations.
The unannounced visits and seizures, authorized under the aforementioned Article 72, are a key investigative tool used to gather evidence related to anti-competitive behavior or failures to notify the Council of economic concentration operations – often referred to as “gun jumping.”
