The National Commission for the Defence of Competition (CNDC, for its acronym in Spanish) concluded that the different markets that are part of the beef value chain do not present significant concentration indicators, so there is little likelihood of damage to the general economic interest. It is a sector with a large number of agents participating in the production circuit throughout the country.
The relevance of the analysis is linked to the importance of beef consumption in Argentina. From the consumer's point of view, beef is a product of notable preponderance in the basic consumption basket. At the national level, the beef market was and is one of the most relevant productive sectors in terms of the capital movements it generates. In addition, due to its prominent role, both in the domestic and foreign markets, it is one of the main pillars of the national economy. Broadly speaking, beef production involves a production chain that begins with cattle breeding and fattening, continues with processing (slaughtering) and culminates in retail sales centres or in the international market.
Although no specific competition concerns were identified in any of the markets analysed, it was observed that the information presented to consumers is often imprecise, unclear and incorrect in relation to the different products produced by the industry.
For this reason, the CNDC recommends the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the Secretariat of Commerce, both belonging to the Ministry of Economy of the Nation, the articulation and deepening of public policies that allow product traceability and the provision of more detailed information on some of the characteristics of the cattle that end up in the consumer´s table as meat cuts. In that way, consumers would have greater knowledge about the meat they buy, which could lead to product differentiation and greater competitive dynamics, with the consequent benefit to the general economic interest.