By 3pm today the Commerce Commission had received 13 submissions in response to its draft determination on the proposal by a consortium of meat companies to buy the Weddel meat processing plants and then close them.
Commission Chairman Alan Bollard said of the submissions received to date, six support the proposal, two give it qualified support, one is neutral and four oppose it.
Today is the deadline for interested parties to make submissions, and Dr Bollard said he expects more submissions to come in this afternoon. Experts working for interested parties have until December 9 to make submissions.
The 17 company consortium has applied for authorisation of restrictive trade practices in relation to its proposal for the plants.
In its draft determination released last month the Commission said its preliminary view is the proposal would be likely to substantially lessen competition and that this anti-competitive effect would not be outweighed by public benefits.
Dr Bollard said the Commission's investigation is proceeding as planned, with staff continuing research and studying the submissions.
A conference of interested parties has been called by the Commission and will be held in Wellington on January 16-20. The Commission expects to make a final determination by late January.
The Commerce Act prohibits potentially anti-competitive behaviour, called restrictive trade practices. It also allows for authorisation of restrictive trade practices if it can be shown that the public benefit is greater than the detriment to competition.
Media contact:Vince Cholewa, Communications Officer
