Brussels, 20/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 20 September, the European Commission cleared the proposed acquisition of French-based food company Cereol SA by Bunge Ltd of the United States. The Commission's investigation showed that the two companies' activities were largely complementary and that Bunge would face sufficient competition despite becoming the world's leading oilseed-processing company. Unlike Cereol, Bunge does not have production installations in the European Economic Area. The market is characterised by the existence of effective and potential alternative suppliers as well as by a considerable degree of demand "substitutability" between various types of oilseeds which will effectively counter any anti-competitive behaviour by Bunge. The Commission has therefore concluded that the proposed acquisition would entail neither the creation nor the strengthening of a dominant position, under all alternative market definitions.