By Megan Armstrong

On 31 March 2026, the Competition Commission of Mauritius reached a significant regulatory milestone with the publication of its Guidelines on Market Inquiries (CC 8 Guidelines). These Guidelines have been published following recent amendments to the Mauritius Competition Act of 2007, and provide a formal roadmap for the Commission to examine entire sectors of the Mauritian economy, rather than focusing solely on individual firm misconduct.

Why these Guidelines are Important

The introduction of these Guidelines mark a shift from reactive to proactive enforcement. Historically the Competition Commission of Mauritius has focused on investigating specific restrictive practices, such as cartels or abuse of monopoly power. However, many markets fail to deliver competitive outcomes due to structural issues, regulatory barriers or complex consumer behaviour, even in the absence of a specific law-breaking act.

Alignment with Recent Developments

The publication of these Guidelines is not an isolated event, but a strategic move. Over the past few months the Competition Commission of Mauritius has intensified its focus on modernising its oversight of the Mauritian economy.

The Guidelines arrive mere weeks after the Mauritian Competition Commission released its Digital Market Landscape Report, which reviewed market conditions across various digital platforms, signalling the Commission’s intent to monitor these high-growth and complex sectors.  

The Commission was officially vested with the power to conduct market inquiries following an amendment to the Competition Act in September 2025. The CC 8 Guidelines serve as an operational manual for these newly granted powers to transform the legal text into a functioning regulatory tool.

The start of 2026 has seen the Commission host the first meeting of the Tripartite Technical Committee, and the collaborative ethos of this meeting is echoed in the CC 8 Guidelines, which emphasise the importance of working with other regulators and government bodies to implement the recommendations that arise from market inquiries.

Conclusion

By formalising the market inquiry process, the Competition Commission of Mauritius is moving towards a more sophisticated and transparent model of economic regulation. As Mauritius navigates the complexities of digital transformation and global economic shifts, these guidelines provide the ‘rulebook’ necessary to ensure that markets remain open, innovative and fair to all consumers.