The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is calling for comment on the proposed acquisition of Australian Co-operative Foods Limited (Dairy Farmers) by Parmalat SpA and Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited.

The ACCC today issued a Statement of issues in relation to the proposed acquisition.

The Statement of Issues identifies a number of preliminary concerns the ACCC has in relation to the proposed acquisition and seeks further information on certain issues which have arisen from the ACCC's market inquiries to date.

The ACCC invites further submissions from the market by 7 August 2008. To allow for submissions in response to the Statement of issues, the ACCC's final decision date will be deferred until 21 August 2008. 

Submissions can be sent by email to the ACCC at: mergers@accc.gov.au. The Statement of issues will be available on the ACCC's website, through the Public Registers link to the ACCC's mergers and acquisitions register.