Complete unanimity among the members of the Union on this matter, however, is not. Representatives of “Baltika” and Efes told “Vedomosti” that will join the initiative. But the major Russian manufacturer of beer “Ochakovo” also included in the Union, colleagues does not support: about 80% of production “Ochakovo” is just beer in plastic bottles with a capacity of more than 1, 5 l, explains CEO Yuri Antonov.

Contact a representative at Heineken failed.

A year ago, the state Duma adopted in the first reading a bill to limit production and sales of beer in plastic bottles made in 2013 as the Deputy-United Russia party, Mikhail Tarasenko. To consider the bill in the second and third readings was planned in the spring session 2015, deputies then took a time-out until the autumn. But members of the Union of brewers did not wait when the project enters into force, and since January 2014 has stopped production of beer in PET containers of > 2. 5 l, and of beer and beer beverages stronger than 6% in PET with a capacity exceeding 2 liters. In addition, the brewers officials promised that in 2017 will cease to pour beer in plastic bottles of 1, 5 l – but with the condition that further reduce packaging. The government, however, this condition is not accepted. In April 2015 it has published a feedback on the draft bill, proposing that from 1 July 2016 to reduce the maximum permitted capacity plastic containers of 1, 5 l, and “in the future” – in stages – and to 0, 5 l

However, the idea of reducing the maximum permitted capacity of PET bottles up to 0, 5 l criticized the Federal Antimonopoly service (it submitted to the state Duma of your opinion on a bill to limit the sale of beer in plastic bottles). Such a radical restriction of the production and sale of beer is fraught with the departure of part of the brewing companies, the redistribution of income in favor of manufacturers of glass and aluminum containers, will be affected by this and adjacent markets, said in a review of the service.

Objective reasons to limit the size of the PET containers no, said Sponge from the Union of brewers, but there are “compromise solution” in response to the proposal of the state. According to him, the companies hope that the voluntary waiver of the PET volume more than 1. 5 l will stop the discussion on the further limitation of bottling beer in plastic bottles, although guarantees, of course not. If the ban beer in plastic bottles with a capacity exceeding 0, 5 l, then in fact it would mean a complete ban on use of plastic industry, said Sponge.

According to him, the Union has already signalled its intention to the head of the Federal alcohol market regulatory service Igor Chuana. This was confirmed by a spokesman Alexander Kulikov, refusing to comment on the decision of the Union on the merits. Know about the initiative brewers and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin (oversees including the alcohol industry), said his spokesman. Road map for regulation of the Russian alcohol market will be adopted in mid-September 2015 at the meeting of the profile Commission, she added.

The limitation of the production of beer in plastic bottles, which is the industry that will reduce the sales of this drink about 10%, said Sponge. Now for beer in PET packaging over 1, 5 l accounts for 24% of the market, he cites Nielsen data. This segment will lose 20-40%, the rest will be transferred to plastic containers smaller containers and glass bottles, said Sponge. It is likely that the restriction will lead to higher prices, although everything will depend on the policy of each company, he adds.

Will manufacturers benefit other types of packaging, the plastic packaging market will decline by 15-20%, fears of technical Director of the Association of producers and processors of polyethylene terephthalate Nikolay Fat. The industry may suffer reputational damage, does not exclude it: consumers may doubt the safety of products in plastic containers