Large swathes of industry, from oil firms to brewers, will be offered automatic clearance from competition scrutiny…

Date: 01/10/1998

...for distribution deals between producers and retailers if EU governments agree to proposals outlined in a discussion paper adopted by the Commission this week. However, the thresholds proposed in the paper for clearance of so-called vertical restraints would still result in sweetheart deals involving companies with large market shares being vetted.