BRUSSELS, July 29 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators

paused their investigation into candy maker Mars' $36 billion

bid for Pringles maker Kellanova ( K ) on Tuesday while they

await data requested from the companies.

The European Commission, which acts as the competition

watchdog for the 27-country bloc, last month opened a full-scale

investigation into the deal, warning that it could result in

price increases.

"The 'clock' in merger investigations can be suspended if

the parties fail to provide, in a timely fashion, an important

piece of information that the Commission has requested from them

within a prescribed deadline," the Commission said in an email.

The investigation will resume with a new decision deadline

once the companies have handed over the information. The

previous deadline was October 31.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission approved the deal

unconditionally last month.