The EC is investigating allegations that lack of competition is forcing price rises for glass bottles, following a complaint from the EU Federation of Wine & Spirits Importers. In a letter to the EU Competition Commissioner, the Federation expresses its concern that concentration in the glass bottle manufacturing sector is affecting prices and hindering competition. It alleges that glass bottle prices have increased by up to 30% in recent months due to lack of competition and to companies discounting older and less expensive bottle designs. The Federation also suggests that glassmaking in EU has become so highly concentrated that users face a virtual monopoly of suppliers. In a separate complaint, Belgium's wines and spirits federation claims that more than 95% of the EU glass bottle market is in the hands of OI; Saint-Gobain and Ardagh Glass.
