Brussels, 27/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared the proposed restructuring of Coca-Cola Nestlé Refreshment Company (CCNR), an existing 50/50 beverages joint venture in the field of iced tea and coffee between the US giant The Coca-Cola Company and Swiss-based food company Nestlé SA. CCNR was created in 1991 for the manufacture and distribution of Nestea (a Nestlé iced tea brand) as well as iced coffee and iced chocolate beverages. Through a new restructuring of the joint venture decided this year, the patent companies have enhanced CCNR's autonomy from its parents and broadened its geographical scope (CCNR will be present world-wide apart from Japan, the US and Canada). The Coca-Cola Company will add to CCNR's activities its ready-to-drink tea brands "Tian Yu Di" and "Yang Guang" that were previously only sold in China. Nestlé will contribute its Beltè iced tea brand, which is exclusive to Italy, and its European iced coffee business. The joint venture's scope will be expanded to include the production of beverages containing calcium, herbs or other ingredients that use tea or coffee as a carrier. The Commission's review of the joint venture showed that the concentration did not give rise to any competition concerns given the presence in the iced tea market of brands owned by Unilever and San Benedetto, and also obstacles to the arrival of new players in this market.