Book excerpt: Reviews EU policy towards vertical restraints -- agree. between producers & distributors that can be used pro-competitively to promote market integration & efficient dist. or anti-competitively to block integration & competition. Addresses the structure of distribution, economic analysis of vertical restraints & the internal market, current procedures & institutional framework, current rules for vertical restraints, & advantages of the present system. Makes a comparison of community law with member state & third country laws applicable to vertical restraints, examines the results of fact finding, & presents options based on the study analysis.