German Agriculture and Consumer Protection Minister Renate Kuenast has expressed his disapproval of the discount prices of German retailers Aldi and Lidl.

Kuenast said the prices threatened the existence of smaller retailers and that the government would limit the power of discount retailers under the next reform of the unfair competition laws.

The German discount retail sector reported a 2002 increase in turnover as a result of price reductions, reported the Dutch News Digest.