The Office for Competition within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority has set out how its work supports open, fair and competitive markets in Malta, with a focus on merger control, antitrust enforcement, sector enquiries and advocacy.
In a recent interview, Dr Melchior Vella, Director General of the Office for Competition, said the Office’s work affects both consumers and businesses, even when competition law may appear technical or remote from everyday life.
“Our mandate is there to safeguard competition, to ensure that our markets remain open, fair and ultimately competitive,” Vella said.
He said the impact of competition can be seen in ordinary purchasing decisions, including the price people pay, the range of products available and the quality of service they receive.
“We are not there to micromanage businesses,” he said. “We are there to ensure that competition is there and that we safeguard that competition. We only come in when we see that there is a risk to competition.”
Malta’s competition landscape explained – YouTube
Four areas of work
Vella said the Office’s work is built around four core areas set out in law.
The first is merger control. Where companies join forces, and the transaction meets the applicable turnover threshold, the Office assesses, on an ex ante and forward-looking basis, whether the concentration could lead to a substantial lessening of competition.
The second area is antitrust enforcement. Vella said this may involve situations where firms do not compete as they should.
“You can have two firms that, instead of competing, are fixing prices or sharing markets,” he said. “You can also have a dominant firm that abuses its position.”
The third area is sector enquiries, where the Office examines a whole sector or particular market. These enquiries do not necessarily begin from a suspected
infringement, but may look at broader competition concerns such as inefficiencies, structural issues or barriers to entry.
“We study the markets, and we determine whether there are structural issues or barriers to entry, and we come up with a number of policy recommendations,” Vella said.
The fourth area is advocacy. The Office advises public authorities on competition matters and carries out outreach initiatives to help the public and businesses better understand competition law.
Supporting businesses as well as consumers
Vella said competition law is often associated with consumer protection, but its role in supporting businesses is just as important.
“Competition law is there to safeguard businesses as well, to encourage businesses to invest,” he said. “It gives them certainty, so that their investments can reap the benefits of that investment and ultimately they can compete on the merits.”
He said competition gives undertakings the opportunity to enter markets, expand and grow, and is associated with better economic outcomes.
This is particularly important in a small economy such as Malta, where market structure can make the effects of mergers or abuse of dominance more significant.
“When you have a small economy, you tend to find that there is a higher level of concentration and fewer players,” Vella said. “Whenever there is a proposed transaction, or a company abuses its position, the effect is likely to be much more substantial.”
He added that competition helps maintain a level playing field between market players and supports Malta’s ability to compete internationally.
Market power and enforcement priorities
During the interview, Dr Melchior Vella told SiGMA News that holding a strong market position is not unlawful in itself. The concern arises when conduct by a dominant undertaking harms competition.
Possessing strong market power is not, in itself, unlawful, he said. However, the Office may intervene where that market power is abused through anti-competitive conduct.
He cited predatory pricing as one example, where a dominant firm deliberately “sets a price below its cost with the intention to shut other firms out of the market”. Other possible concerns include excessive pricing, discriminatory pricing and certain vertical agreements, such as resale price maintenance.
Looking ahead, Vella said the Office will continue to handle antitrust and merger cases in a timely, efficient and transparent manner.
He said the Office is also working with the European Commission and European peers to strengthen its capabilities in data analysis and digital markets, an area he described as important, “especially when you have such a dynamic market”.
The Office will also continue outreach with stakeholders and businesses to encourage compliance and improve understanding of competition law.
The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) today officially launched its new strategy together with a refreshed visual identity during an event which brought together stakeholders, partners and representatives from various sectors.
The new identity reflects the MCCAA’s evolution into a modern, accessible and collaborative Authority, while continuing to strengthen its core values of fairness, transparency, trust and protection for both consumers and businesses.
During the event, the Authority also presented its new strategic vision, which looks towards the future with a focus on innovation, digital services, sustainability and a safer, fairer and more competitive market for consumers and economic operators alike.
Addressing the event, MCCAA Chairperson Carmen Ciantar stated that the new identity is not merely a visual change, but a reflection of how the Authority has continued to evolve over the years in order to remain relevant, modern and close to both people and businesses.
“As markets and the needs of consumers and businesses continue to evolve, the MCCAA must continue evolving with them. This new identity and strategy reflect our commitment towards a more modern, innovative and accessible Authority,” stated Ciantar.
The MCCAA continues to operate through its four main pillars — Competition, Consumer Affairs, Standards and Metrology, and Technical Regulations — with the aim of further strengthening its regulatory and protective functions within the Maltese market, while supporting a fair and sustainable economic environment.
The event also included the unveiling of the new logo and an audiovisual production highlighting the Authority’s work, values and future direction, and how these directly impact each and every one of us.
The Office for Competition approves the acquisition by H.I.G. Capital LLC through IAC Malta Limited of the Business and assets of Aviation Cosmetics Malta Limited.
The decision can be found here
This week the Lifts page has been updated with the latest Lifts Database.
The MCCAA has presented its Annual Report to the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue and Accommodation, outlining a year of steady progress, tangible achievements, and continued commitment to protecting consumers, supporting businesses, and strengthening confidence in Malta’s markets.
The Annual Report reflects the MCCAA’s wide‑ranging work across consumer affairs, competition enforcement, product safety, standards, metrology, and technical regulation, delivering results that directly benefit citizens, businesses, and the wider economy.
Throughout 2025, the MCCAA continued to promote fair trading practices, safeguard consumer rights, ensure businesses compete on merit, and strengthen Malta’s regulatory and quality infrastructure.
Key Highlights
Alongside enforcement, the MCCAA continued to support businesses through guidance and engagement, promoting compliance through transparent and proportionate regulation while strengthening strategic planning and modern market oversight.
Together, these results demonstrate how effective regulation delivers real impact; safer products, stronger competition, enhanced consumer protection, and greater confidence in Malta’s marketplace.
Read the full Annual Report: https://mccaa.org.mt/publications
