The Netherlands: Heineken fined for distributing beer cans without mandatory deposit

Heineken has been fined 1.5 million euros for distributing beer cans without the mandatory deposit in the Netherlands, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) announced.

The violation occurred between April 1 and April 11, 2023, when Heineken filled more than 7.2 million cans without the deposit logo and released them to the market, despite the legal requirement already being in effect.

The OM said Heineken failed to meet its legal obligations. The agency noted that the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) had repeatedly informed beverage producers, including Heineken, starting in September 2022 about the upcoming deposit requirement.

Heineken acknowledged a “complex transition period, during which a tolerance policy applied.” The company said that it was temporarily allowed to sell cans without the deposit logo if they were filled before April 1.

However, Heineken admitted it misinterpreted the policy and continued filling remaining cans without the deposit logo after April 1.

The company accepted the OM-imposed fine and announced it would make an additional voluntary donation of 500,000 euros to an organization supporting the expansion of the deposit system.

A Heineken spokesperson said, “We accept the fine imposed by the Public Prosecution Service of 1.5 million euros and are voluntarily donating 500,000 euros to a charity that accelerates the deposit system.”