Division (29)

Regarding question 5, Tetra argues that Tetra Fast is not a barrier technology as such and therefore, it was not required to mention its existence in response to the question. The Commission notes that Tetra’s coating technology patent application of 23 March 2001, unambiguously links Tetra Fast to barrier technologies. The patent application describes a method of blowing bottles using a precursor gas mixture to coat the inner side of the bottle at the same time as blowing the bottle which while also relating to the blowing of the bottle is still a technology for applying a barrier to the inner surface of the bottle. The fact that it is not sprayed or applied on to the surface of the bottle in the same way as other barrier technologies does not make it any less related to PET barrier technologies.