Brazil: Companhia de Bebidas das Americas – AmBev announced on July 21, 2004 that the Brazilian government granted the certification for the first flow meter installed in Brazil, located in AmBev’s plant in the city of Jaguariuna (SP).

According to the Brazilian Internal Revenue Service’s Instruction 265, from December 20, 2002, all brewers in Brazil with annual production higher than 50,000 hectoliters are required to install flow meters in their production lines within six months from July 21, 2004.

AmBev believes that the initiative from the Brazilian Internal Revenue Service to implement flow meters to measure volume produced will avoid unfair competition in the beer market, in which illegal practices have been employed for the sole benefit of tax evaders.

23 July, 2004