Brewing companies and their tenants will breathe a sigh of relief next week

Date: 05/12/1996

if, as expected, the European Commission extends the exemption from normal EU anti-trust rules granted to their distinct distribution arrangements (known as 'vertical restraints') for another two years. Van Miert's officials have long been sceptical about making allowances for such agreements, but the Directorate-General for competition (DGIV) has taken so long to decide what to do about them that the industries involved have been clamouring for legal security for their contracts.