Gatineau, October 16, 2025 – The Canadian Competition Bureau has obtained court orders to collect information as part of its investigation into Mérieux NutriSciences’ completed acquisition of Bureau Veritas’ food testing business, amid concerns the deal may weaken competition across Canada’s food testing markets.
The Federal Court has ordered Silliker Canada, its US affiliate Silliker Inc., and Bureau Veritas Canada to produce documents and information relevant to the inquiry. The Bureau has up to three years from the deal’s closing to seek remedial action, which could include partial or full divestitures if competition concerns are confirmed.
Market Context
Mérieux NutriSciences, a US-based global provider of food testing services, operates in Canada through Silliker Canada. Prior to the deal, both Mérieux and Bureau Veritas were major competitors in food testing markets spanning British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec.
The acquisition, first announced on October 7, 2024, closed in Canada on December 31, 2024, and was made public on January 6, 2025.
The Bureau is examining whether the merger, which gave Mérieux NutriSciences control of seven additional laboratories nationwide, could substantially lessen or prevent competition. Officials are assessing whether the transaction may lead to higher prices, fewer choices, or lower-quality services for customers such as food producers, processors, and retailers.
The investigation also aims to determine if smaller and new entrants can effectively compete in an increasingly concentrated market, and whether any facility closures linked to the merger could harm competitive dynamics.
The Bureau noted that while not all mergers require notification, it encourages companies to engage voluntarily with the agency before completing transactions that may raise competitive concerns.
