EU COMPETITION watchdogs have given the go-ahead for Swiss bio-tech firm Syngenta to take over Dutch-based Advanta, subject to it divesting of Advanta‘s entire European seeds business.

“Our market investigation pointed to serious competition concerns in a number of seed markets within the EU,” said a commission statement.

These include sugar beet seeds in Belgium, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Ireland and Italy, and maize seeds in Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK.

Sunflower seeds in Hungary and Spain, spring barley seeds in France and vining peas in the UK were also a concern.

“The operation would create a very strong market leader, often twice or more the size of the next competitor,” said the statement.

“In the market for sugar beet seeds, the proposed operation would bring together two of the three major European breeders.”

In order to remove these concerns, Syngenta has offered to divest Advanta‘s whole European seed business to an independent purchaser.

Based on this commitment, the commission has given its approval for the acquisition.