Competition Office launches expedited probes: this affects a lot of companies – UPDATED

Hungary’s Competition Office (GVH) on Thursday announced the launch of expedited probes in three sectors to determine why some public procurement tenders attracted just one bidder.

GVH said the first probe was focused on medical equipment suppliers. The share of single bid contracts for diagnostic imaging equipment, such as MR and CT scanners, was “particularly high” in the period between 2019 and 2023, it added.

UPDATE: Footwear retailer CCC pledges changes to pricing practices after probe

CCC, a footwear and clothing retailer, has agreed to adopt more transparent pricing practices after the launch of a probe by the Competition Office (GVH), the watchdog said on Friday.

GVH said it had launched probes of CCC and two other retailers, Answear and About You, over the display of several different prices on products at the same time, causing confusion among customers over the “discounted” and the “sale” price.

CCC agreed to display only the discounted price and the lowest price in the previous 30 days, as stipulated by decree, resolving the issue and resulting in the close of the probe.