08/09/2009 - Minimum drink price within EU law
Proposals by the Scottish Government to introduce a minimum price for alcohol are within EU laws, the SNP has confirmed.
It said the European Commission made it "perfectly plain" that plans to bring in a minimum price per unit for alcohol in an attempt to curb the country's drink culture do not contravene European legislation, as claimed by some members of the drinks industry.
Responding to a question by Labour MEP Catherine Stihler asking whether minimum prices violate EU law, the commission said in a statement that legislation "does not prohibit member states from setting minimum retail prices for alcoholic beverages".
But it did say that a previous European Court ruling meant if prices were set at such a level that imported products would be at a disadvantage, that could be seen as an obstacle to the free movement of goods.
However, it added: "This would not be the case if pricing rules applied to all relevant traders operating within the national territory, and if they affected in the same manner, in law and in fact, the marketing of domestic and imported products."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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