The Department of Commerce is recording 6,343 economic violations after 40,000 visits lost
Economic Monitoring Interests announced the proceeds of its interventions during October, which included the seizure of tons of consumer and subsidized materials in various distribution channels.
Economic surveillance interests of the Ministry of Trade and Export Development registered 6343 economic infringements in various distribution channels, markets and vital sectors across the country, during the period from 1 October to 29 October 2026. These figures came after field surveillance teams carried out about 40,000 inspection visits to monitor the movement of goods and monitor trade transactions.
The observed infringements were mainly distributed between 3,055 infringements linked to non-transparency of transactions and lack of price disclosure, plus 2,079 infringements related to price overruns and monopoly. Field campaigns resulted in the seizure of varying quantities of products including 139 tons of vegetables and sprouts, 70 tons of weeds, 18 tons of sugar, 11 tons of grain derivatives, as well as 13,800 eggs, 12,400 litres of mineral water and 1,600 litres of supported vegetable oil.
The Director of the National Observatory for Supply and Price Adjustment stressed that these intensive field interventions aim to counter monopoly, combat price overruns, prevent illegal speculation to ensure market stability and ensure consistency in supply of basic materials.
The current surveillance campaigns are based on the requirements of Law No. 36 of 2015 regulating price freedom and competition, as well as the provisions of Decree No. 14 of 2022 relating to resistance to illegal speculation. During the previous month of September, economic controls had registered 7953 breaches following the execution of 50758 inspections involving various business activities.
The authorities concerned are moving towards the implementation of a package of additional regulatory and supervisory measures in anticipation of the administrative New Year and Ramadan seasons, as part of plans aimed at continuing pressure on price levels and reducing supply gaps in markets.