Commission v Bilbaina de Alquitranes and Others (Environment - Classification, labelling and packaging of certain substances and mixtures : Judgment) [2017] EUECJ C-691/15 (22 November 2017)

Commission v Bilbaina de Alquitranes and Others (Environment - Classification, labelling and packaging of certain substances and mixtures : Judgment) [2017] EUECJ C-691/15 (22 November 2017)

The Commission is not required to limit its assessment solely to factors expressly referred to in Regulation No 1272/2008; it must examine carefully and impartially other relevant factors, including solubility, when classifying UVCB substances. The General Court did not err in finding a manifest error of assessment...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2017] EUECJ C-691/15
Parties
Appellant: European Commission; Respondents: Bilbaína de Alquitranes SA, Deza a.s., Industrial Química del Nalón SA, Koppers Denmark A/S, Koppers UK Ltd, Koppers Netherlands BV, Rütgers basic aromatics GmbH, Rütgers Belgium NV, Rütgers Poland Sp. z o.o., Bawtry Carbon International Ltd, Grupo Ferroatlántica SA, SGL Carbon GmbH (Germany), SGL Carbon GmbH (Austria), SGL Carbon, SGL Carbon SA, SGL Carbon Polska S. A., ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Tokai erftcarbon GmbH; Intervener: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); Intervener: Kingdom of Denmark; Intervener: Federal Republic of Germany; Intervener: Kingdom of the Netherlands; Intervener at First Instance: GrafTech Iberica SL
Jurisdiction
European Union
Judgment Date
22 November 2017
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Final Judgment
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, Regulation No 1272/2008, Summation Method, Judicial Review, Duty to Act Diligently
EU Law Environmental Law Administrative Law Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Regulation No 1272/2008 Summation Method Judicial Review Duty to Act Diligently

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Parties

European Commission

Appellant

Bilbaína de Alquitranes SA, Deza a.s., Industrial Química del Nalón SA, Koppers Denmark A/S, Koppers UK Ltd, Koppers Netherlands BV, Rütgers basic aromatics GmbH, Rütgers Belgium NV, Rütgers Poland Sp. z o.o., Bawtry Carbon International Ltd, Grupo Ferroatlántica SA, SGL Carbon GmbH (Germany), SGL Carbon GmbH (Austria), SGL Carbon, SGL Carbon SA, SGL Carbon Polska S. A., ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Tokai erftcarbon GmbH

Respondents

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Intervener

Kingdom of Denmark

Intervener

Federal Republic of Germany

Intervener

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Intervener

GrafTech Iberica SL

Intervener at First Instance

Procedural Posture

Appeal / Final Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Commission erred in classifying CTPHT as Aquatic Acute 1 and Aquatic Chronic 1
  2. 2 Whether the Commission was required to consider factors beyond those expressly stated in Regulation No 1272/2008
  3. 3 Scope of judicial review over Commission's scientific assessments

Ratio Decidendi

The Commission is not required to limit its assessment solely to factors expressly referred to in Regulation No 1272/2008; it must examine carefully and impartially other relevant factors, including solubility, when classifying UVCB substances. The General Court did not err in finding a manifest error of assessment by the Commission.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • European Commission to pay its own costs and those incurred by Bilbaína de Alquitranes and others, including costs relating to interlocutory proceedings.
  • Kingdom of Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, Kingdom of the Netherlands to bear their own costs.