The Latvian competition authority, known as the Competition Council, has approved the acquisition of AS 'Daugavpils Specializētais Autotransporta Uzņēmums' (AS DSATU) by SIA 'Eco Baltia vide'. The authority determined that the merger would not significantly harm competition in the market.

SIA 'Eco Baltia vide' is involved in various waste management activities across Latvia, including waste collection, sorting, storage, and recycling. The company also handles hazardous waste and provides seasonal services such as road cleaning and maintenance. In Daugavpils, Eco Baltia operates a waste sorting and transfer station for both non-hazardous and hazardous waste, as well as collection points for household waste.

AS DSATU, the other party in the merger, provides road and territory maintenance services to the Daugavpils municipality and surrounding areas. Their services include cleaning bus stops, snow removal, and the collection and transportation of hazardous waste for industrial clients. They also engage in commercial transport to neighboring countries and road construction services.

The merger will result in overlapping activities between Eco Baltia and AS DSATU in waste management within Latvia. However, the Competition Council concluded that the merger would not significantly alter market structure or reduce competition, thus allowing the transaction to proceed.

To prevent substantial reductions in competition due to mergers, the Competition Council requires approval for transactions that meet specific criteria under competition law. This regulatory oversight aims to prevent structural changes that could limit consumer choices or lead to non-competitive pricing in the long term.