Decision of the Competition Council of the Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal - GVH) Vj-54/2006: Procter & Gamble Magyarország Nagykereskedelmi Kkt.

The Competition Council of the Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal - GVH) established in its decision, issued on 21 September 2006, that Procter & Gamble infringed the provisions on the prohibition of unfair manipulation of consumer choice of the Hungarian Competition Act.

In the competition supervision proceeding the Competition Council of the GVH concluded that the advertisements of Procter & Gamble were unlawful for the following reasons:

1. Procter & Gamble could not prove that its "Bonux" washing powder is more efficient than other washing powders in the same price category.

2. Procter & Gamble referred to the "Ariel test laboratory". This was held to be misleading because the laboratory, where tests were carried out, did not bear this name and Procter & Gamble thus unlawfully intended to make a reference to a higher quality washing powder.

The Competition Council of the GVH imposed a fine of HUF 315 million (approx. EUR 1.105.000) on Procter & Gamble for its unlawful behaviour.

Budapest, 22 September, 2006

Hungarian Competition Authority
Communication Group

Further information:
Mihálovits András
Hungarian Competition Authority
1054 Budapest, V., Alkotmány u.5.
1245 Budapest, 5. Pf. 1036
tel: (+36-1) 472-8902
email: Mihalovits.Andras@gvh.hu
http://www.gvh.hu