The European Commission says EU competition law won’t stop countries setting a minimum price of alcohol as long as certain conditions are met.

The Scottish National Party said the statement shows its own plans to set minimum pricing will fall within EU rules.

In a reply to a Parliamentary question from a Labour MEP, the European Commission said: “The Commission recognises the right of member states to pursue public health objectives and welcomes, in principle all initiatives which aim at reducing harms to public health, in particular alcohol related harm.”

It pointed to a directive on competition, which is said “does not prohibit member states from setting minimum retail prices for alcoholic beverages.

“However, any such national measure and its effects still need to be compatible with other provisions of Community law, including the EC Treaty’s rules on the free movement of goods.”

Referring to a court ruling that price controls could impact on competition and imported products, the Commission said: “On the other hand this would not be the case if pricing rules applied to all relevant traders operating within the national territory.”

It would also not apply if the rules affected all producers, domestic and foreign, in terms of marketing.

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