FILE PHOTO: The logo of Bayer AG is pictured at the Bayer Healthcare subgroup production plant in Wuppertal, Germany February 24, 2014. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said Germany's Bayer BAYGn.DE had submitted commitments aimed at easing competition concerns over its $66 billion takeover of U.S. agrochemicals group Monsanto MON.N, suggesting the company aims to avoid a lengthy review.

The Commission said it had extended a deadline by two weeks, aiming to complete its initial review of the deal by Aug. 22.

The German chemicals maker has previously agreed to major asset sales to win the go-ahead from competition authorities, though it did not comment on Tuesday on what it had offered to the European Commission.

It still expects to be able to close the deal by year-end.

Recent deals in the sector, such as the merger of Dow Chemical DOW.N and DuPont and ChemChina's purchase of Switzerland's Syngenta, were subjected to full-scale probes, resulting in substantial concessions from the companies.