The Belgian brewing giant Interbrew has come under fire form the country’s Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who has called the brewer’s decision to consider moving the company’s legal headquarters "abusive tax avoidance".

It was reported last week that the brewing giant would review the location of its HQ once its merger with AmBev is completed.

Interbrew and AmBev’s shareholders apparently want to complete “an examination of the feasibility and desirability of redomiciling the company to another jurisdiction by no later than the first anniversary of the closing (of the deal)”.

"I want to say first of all that Interbrew does not pay much tax in Belgium at the moment," Verhofstadt told a Sunday lunch time talk show on RTL-TVI television. "I think that better than starting to organise... abusive tax avoidance, (Interbrew's directors) should knock on the door of the finance ministry... and reach an agreement about tax for the future."

06 April, 2004