EU prepared to alter beer tie
The EU has indicated its upcoming review of the beer tie could lead to changes in how the tie fits within European competition law.
It also revealed that a public consultation will take place into the review of the regulations that allow certain opt-outs from competition law, including the beer tie.
The Block Exemption Regulations (BER) grant some commercial agreements, including the beer tie, exemption from Article 81 of the EC Treaty, which outlaws agreements that prevent competition.
A spokeswoman for the EU's Directorate General for Competition said: "Given that the current BER will expire on 31 May 2010, it is expected that a draft guideline of the new BER will be put out for public consultation soon.
"The review of the BER may bring some modifications to the assessment of vertical restraints in the beer sector."
The Morning Advertiser revealed this week that anti-beer tie groups Fair Pint, the Federation of Small Businesses and the GMB Union are to use the opt-out renewal to lobby the EU to ban the tie.
