Melon case – The government has approved the report of the Ministry of Rural Development

There has been no cartel agreement protecting the melon growers – states the report of the Ministry of Rural Development, which was adopted by the government – the ministry told MTI on Thursday.

The Notice reminds: the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) initated competition supervision proceedings against six chain of stores in Hungary on 27 August 2012. The six chains were: ALDI Magyarország Élelmiszer Bt., Auchan Magyarország Kft., CBA Kereskedelmi Kft., Lidl Magyarország Kereskedelmi Bt., SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. and the TESCO-GLOBAL Áruházak Zrt. The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH)  also initated competition supervision proceedings against the Hungarian Watermelon Association and Public Nonprofit Association and against the Hungarian Fruit and Vegetable Interprofessional Organization and Product Council (FruitVeB).

In the report, the government expresses its respect for the competition supervision proceeding, however, is committed that no cartel agreement occurred to protect the melon growers. The Government’s Program states that “the safe and economic conditions of the direct sale of the locally produced foods should be created.” (MTI)