EU mineral water bottlers are urging the EC to take formal legal action against Germany's interpretation of EU environmental laws. Companies that export mineral water to Germany say the strict environmental rules discriminate against them by making it much more difficult to sell their products in disposable or recyclable containers. According to a press report, Germany imposes a quota on drinks producers, which must provide 72% of their product in refillable containers. Next year Germany plans to introduce a rule that any beverage container cannot be refilled must be returned to the shop for a deposit, the report said. The EC has been investigating the German environmental rules for 9 years. It has sent two warning letters to the German government and has received formal complaints about the German packaging quotas from 5 other EU member countries.
