Zentrale zur Bekampfung unlauteren Wettbewerbs Frankfurt am Main (Judgment) French Text [2019] EUECJ C-686/17 (04 September 2019)

Zentrale zur Bekampfung unlauteren Wettbewerbs Frankfurt am Main (Judgment) French Text [2019] EUECJ C-686/17 (04 September 2019)

For fresh fruit and vegetables, including mushrooms, the country of origin for labelling purposes is the country of harvest, as defined by the customs code, regardless of substantial production steps in other Member States. The general prohibition on misleading labelling does not override this specific origin...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2019] EUECJ C-686/17
Parties
Applicant: Zentrale zur Bekämpfung unlauteren Wettbewerbs Frankfurt am Main eV; Respondent: Prime Champ Deutschland Pilzkulturen GmbH
Jurisdiction
European Union
Procedural Posture
Preliminary Ruling (renvoi Préjudiciel) / Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (first Chamber)
Outcome
Questions answered; interpretation of EU law provided to the referring court.
Legal Topics
Origin Labelling of Foodstuffs, Interpretation of EU Regulations and Directives, Consumer Information, Unfair Commercial Practices, Customs Code Definitions
European Union Law Agricultural Law Customs Law Consumer Protection Law Origin Labelling of Foodstuffs Interpretation of EU Regulations and Directives Consumer Information Unfair Commercial Practices +1 more

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 10 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Zentrale zur Bekämpfung unlauteren Wettbewerbs Frankfurt am Main eV

Applicant

Prime Champ Deutschland Pilzkulturen GmbH

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Preliminary Ruling (renvoi Préjudiciel) / Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (first Chamber)

  1. 1 Definition of 'country of origin' for fresh fruit and vegetables under EU law
  2. 2 Applicability of customs code definitions to agricultural marketing rules
  3. 3 Interaction between consumer protection rules and agricultural/customs labelling requirements

Ratio Decidendi

For fresh fruit and vegetables, including mushrooms, the country of origin for labelling purposes is the country of harvest, as defined by the customs code, regardless of substantial production steps in other Member States. The general prohibition on misleading labelling does not override this specific origin labelling requirement, and no additional explanatory labelling can be imposed under EU law.

Court Disposition

Questions answered; interpretation of EU law provided to the referring court.