Ceuta withdraws ownership of a stall in the Central Market due to prolonged closure

The Ministry of Health and Social Services of the Autonomous City of Ceuta has resolved to sanction Mr. Sufian Hossain, holder of stall no. 28 of the Central Market, with the loss of ownership of said stall for keeping it closed for more than three months without justified cause. The resolution, signed on August 20, 2026, by the Minister Ms. Nabila Benzina Pavón, is published in the Official Gazette of the City of Ceuta (BOCCE) number 6,650, dated September 8, 2026, in the section of Other Provisions and Agreements, page 3399.

The sanctioning proceedings were initiated via Decree 2025/13421 for the alleged commission of a very serious infringement typified in the Market Regulations of the City of Ceuta, approved by plenary agreement on January 21, 1998. The closure of the stall for three months without justified cause, as determined by the Ministry of Health, constitutes a very serious offense pursuant to Article 45, paragraph e), of the aforementioned regulations.

Processing of the file

Following the notification of the initiation, the interested party submitted allegations, which were answered in a timely and proper manner through a proposed resolution. On May 7, 2026, the proposed report was forwarded to the interested party, granting a period of 15 business days to make any allegations deemed appropriate, in accordance with Article 89.2 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations.

Once the deadline expired without any allegations being submitted or evidence provided to refute the fact subject to sanction, the processing of the sanctioning procedure continued until the final resolution was issued.

The sanction and its effects

Article 46 of the Market Regulations establishes that very serious offenses typified in Article 45, paragraphs c) and e), are sanctioned with the loss of ownership of the stall, as opposed to the fines provided for other infringements. In application of this rule, the resolution agrees:

• To sanction Mr. Sufian Hossain (DNI 45.*18.*7*F) with the loss of ownership of stall no. 28 of the Central Market.
• To grant the party under investigation a period of 10 business days, from the day following the notification, for the delivery of the stall keys to the Central Market offices and the removal of all belongings and merchandise, leaving it in perfect condition.
• To declare the stall vacant and publish the declaration in the BOCCE once the appeals period has elapsed without any having been filed.

Article 19 of the regulations reminds that, upon extinction of the right of occupation, holders must vacate the stall free of merchandise and belongings; otherwise, it will be executed via administrative channels at the expense of the outgoing holder.

Appeals and regulatory framework

Against the resolution, which exhausts the administrative route, the interested party may file an optional appeal for reversal before the same body within one month, or challenge it directly before the Contentious-Administrative Court of Ceuta within two months, in accordance with Article 123.1 of Law 39/2015 and Articles 8.2 and 46 of Law 29/1998, of July 13, regulating the Contentious-Administrative Jurisdiction.

Competence regarding markets is based on Article 25.2.i) of Law 7/1985, of April 2, regulating the Bases of Local Regime, which assigns fairs, supplies, markets, fish markets, and street vending to the municipalities, as well as Article 30 of Organic Law 1/1995, Statute of Autonomy of the City of Ceuta.

Impact for merchants

The loss of ownership of stall no. 28 entails the release of a sales space in the Central Market, a public domain facility assigned to a public service intended to supply the population with basic food items. The measure reinforces control over the activity of the stalls and ensures that spaces do not remain inactive to the detriment of the commercial offer and the remaining merchants of the market.

Source: Official Gazette of the City of Ceuta (BOCCE), no. 6,650, September 8, 2026, Other Provisions and Agreements, page 3399 (official reference: Decree 620, proceedings initiated by Decree 2025/13421).