The Commission Adopts New Vertical Restraints Block Exemption Regulation

On April 20, 2010, the European Commission published the revised block exemption regulation on vertical restraints (the “New BER”); the related guidelines on vertical restraints will be published soon. The New Rules will be applicable as of June 1, 2010, though with a transitional period for some agreements. They will replace the previous block exemption regulation, which expires on May 31, 2010, and the related guidelines. The New Rules result from a long consultation process, concerning in particular the much-debated issue of the treatment of online sales.