Stephen Byers withdraws request for undertakings from Milk Marque

United Kingdom

Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, has confirmed he is withdrawing his request to the Director General of Fair Trading that he seek undertakings from Milk Marque in response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on raw milk supply. Mr Byers said on 21st September 1999 that if Milk Marque’s members voted in favour of its Board’s proposals for break-up into three roughly equalised independent successors, he would withdraw his request of 6th July to the DGFT that he seek undertakings from Milk Marque on the various interim measures recommended by the MMC, and advise on the changes to the system for sale of milk by Milk Marque. Following the positive endorsement for the proposals for break-up by Milk Marque’s members, Mr Byers confirmed that he was withdrawing his request. The DGFT will monitor the operation of the market over the winter and report his conclusions next Easter. If the break-up does not proceed as planned, Mr Byers will reconsider the position. (DTI Press Release P/99/895)