The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) says it will undertake an enquiry into the funeral service market to establish whether there are anti-competitive and unfair trading.

According to a statement issued by the commission and signed by its acting executive director, Apoche Itimu, the enquiry will further seek to establish whether the arrangements that exist between insurance service providers and funeral service providers pose any competition and consumer rights concerns.

Reads part of the statement: “The main objective of the enquiry is to establish whether there are anticompetitive and unfair trading     practices or agreements in the funeral services market.”

“The Commission seeks to understand whether there are unilateral, collusive or vertical arrangements that prevent, restrict or distort competition on the market.”

Furthermore, the enquiry seek to establish whether the arrangements that exist between insurance service providers and funeral service providers pose any competition and consumer rights concerns.

Therefore, the Commission has requested all market players, insurance companies, concerned agencies/institutions and the general public to collaborate in the enquiry.

In view of the enquiry, CFTC has also asked all the stakeholders and the general public to take this opportunity by submitting to the commission their complaints regarding any suspected anticompetitive or unfair trading conduct by enterprises or any person in the provision of funeral services in the country.

The Competition and Fair Trading Commission is a Government agency established under the Competition and Fair Trading Act, and is mandated to regulate, monitor, control and prevent acts or behaviour, which are likely to adversely affect competition and fair trading in Malawi.

Among other functions, the Commission, upon receiving a complaint or on its own volition, conducts market inquiries in order to detect, control and prevent anticompetitive and unfair trading practices.