BUSINESSMAN Andrew Ronnan has won a £125,000 victory over the Government in his campaign to sell imported German lager in pubs.
And now he has set his sights on the European Commission and has demanded that President Romano Trudi release information on Europe's involvement in his nine-year wrangle. Mr Ronnan runs the Bavarian Lager Company from the Sidings Business Park in Whalley, which he has also developed.
The Department of Trade and Industry has settled the case out of court and has agreed to pay the company £125,000 plus costs.
Mr Ronnan's case centred on Government legislation on the brewing industry which prevented the sale of his imported Ingobrau lager from being sold as a 'guest' beer in big brewery pub chains.
He argued that the legislation should have been amended to satisfy superior European law.
"It has been a fascinating experience taking on the UK Government with limited resources but I always knew we had a very arguable case," said Mr Ronnan.
He plans to use his £125,000 windfall to develop a home for the elderly in Whalley and on "worthwhile causes" in the village.
But he remains highly critical of the role of the DTI.
"The taxpayer now has to pick up the tab for compensating my business," he added.
"This is a highly inappropriate way of spending public money but the Government chose to take the risk of ignoring our arguments and now has to face the consequences."
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