BRUSSELS: Wine and spirit importers call for EC intervention over shortage of bottles.
The European Commission said it has received a complaint from EU wine and spirit importers and distributors against bottle-makers, including Saint-Gobain.
"I can confirm commissioner Neelie Kroes did receive a letter on August 28, and the letter will now be passed onto legal services of the competition department, and we will have a close look at the allegations which are made in the letter," a commission spokesman said.
EU wine and spirit importers and distributors have written to Kroes seeking her "urgent intervention" over the shortage of bottles.
Due to restructuring, the number of bottle-makers supplying the European market has shrunk to three from 60, namely Saint-Gobain, Owens-Illinois INC and Ireland's Ardagh Glass. The three companies control 95% of the European market.