Brussels, 22/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - During a meeting on 20 September in Brussels, the European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs (CECRA) urged for the 1400/200 block exemption regulation (BER) to be extended beyond 2010, when this regulation on automobile distribution, adopted July 2002, is to be revised (EUROPE 8257). CECRA President Jürgen Creutzig said “this BER is the best framework for all stakeholders”. CECRA, which is not only an association representing companies in the motor trades and repairs sector, also represents the distributors of different makes. “At the very least a branch specific regulation is necessary due to the specificities of the automotive product and in recognition of the large investments dealers and repairers make to offer the best possible service to consumers”, Mr Creutzig comments in a press release. The fundamental change brought about by Regulation 1400/2002 was to make it an obligation for makers to choose between exclusive distribution (one concessionary on a given territory) or selective distribution (choice of concessionary according to specific criteria).