Cofece initiates proceedings for possible illegal practices in the diesel and gasoline market

The Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece) summoned several economic agents and individuals for the probable realization of various illegal concentrations and the possible omission of notification of concentrations as required by the Federal Law of Economic Competition (LFCE), in the gasoline and diesel marketing and distribution market, as well as the sale of such products to the public at service stations in the national territory.

With this summons begins the stage of the procedure followed in the form of a trial by the Technical Secretariat of the Commission, in which the likely perpetrators may offer evidence related to the alleged accusations made against them, present allegations and state what is appropriate to their right. Once the procedure has been completed, the Plenary of the Cofece will resolve in accordance with the law.

The foregoing is based on the evidence obtained during the investigation carried out by the Investigating Authority under file IO-001-2019, which concluded on November 29, 2022.

If it is verified that one or more illegal concentrations were carried out, as well as the omission of notification of concentrations when legally it should have been done, sanctions could be imposed on each of the economic agents and individuals summoned in accordance with the applicable LFCE.

At the beginning of 2019, Cofece presented a study entitled “Transition towards competitive markets for Gasoline and Diesel” whose purpose was to identify a series of obstacles that could affect competitiveness in the gasoline sector while offering proposals to authorities of different orders and government instances for the adoption of public policies that favor the creation of a competitive environment.

karol.garcia@eleconomista.mx