The Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal, GVH) is Hungary's independent national competition watchdog and state administrative body. Its mandate is to safeguard fair market competition by investigating cartels, preventing abuses of dominant position, supervising corporate mergers, and protecting consumers from unfair commercial practices. Established by Act LXXXVI of 1990 during Hungary's post-communist transition to a market economy, it officially commenced operations on January 1, 1991. Following Hungary's accession to the European Union in 2004, the authority joined the European Competition Network to enforce EU competition rules alongside domestic law.