EC asks plaintiffs if they will drop case against SOC

The European Commission has written to the plaintiffs who filed an antitrust lawsuit against De Beers for its Supplier of Choice program, asking if they would consider dropping their case now that De Beers has agreed to end its rough diamond purchases from Alrosa by 2009, and if De Beers undertakes binding commitments.

De Beers spokesperson Lynette Hori was quoted as saying the company was disappointed by the Alrosa decision but glad the case was over.

The two matters are not legally linked, and Belgium�s Polished Diamond Dealers Association (BVGD) said it is still opposed to Supplier of Choice, which requires sightholders to help pay for diamond marketing and has resulted in several being dropped from the Diamond Trading Company�s list since the program was announced in 2000.

The Diamond and Precious Stones Bourse Idar-Oberstein (Germany) said it would file a new complaint over Supplier of Choice with the EC and the German Ministry of Finance.