The EU Commission has sent a statement of objection to Belgian beverage and brewing company AB InBev stating that it has abused its dominant position on the Belgian beer market.

The statement claims the company sold beer brands Jupiler and Leffe at a higher price in Belgium than in the Netherlands and France.

The commission also noted that it is concerned with a number of AB InBev business practices that have been in place since at least 2009, including changing the design of Jupiler and Leffe cans in the Netherlands and France so that the products cannot be sold in Belgium.

AB InBev is also claimed to have limited Dutch retailers’ access to key products to restrict them from bringing less expensive beer products to Belgium.

“[The comission] is concerned with a number of AB InBev business practices that have been in place since at least 2009.”

As per the commission’s preliminary view, these practices have created anti-competitive obstacles to trade, as well as partitioned the EU’s Single Market along national borders.

The EU’s Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager said: “Our preliminary finding is that AB InBev may have deliberately prevented cheaper beer imports out of France and the Netherlands from reaching consumers in Belgium.

“Such practices would breach EU competition rules because they deny consumers the benefits of the EU Single Market: choice and lower prices. AB InBev now has the opportunity to respond to our concerns.”

If the investigations are confirmed, then it could lead to the infringement of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) that prohibits the abuse of a dominant market position.

An investigation has determined that the drop in price was implemented in the Netherlands and France due to increased competition.