Scotch Whisky Association & Ors v The Lord Advocate & Anor [2014] ScotCS CSIH_38 (30 April 2014)

Scotch Whisky Association & Ors v The Lord Advocate & Anor [2014] ScotCS CSIH_38 (30 April 2014)

The court determined that the EU law issues raised by the challenge to minimum unit pricing are not acte clair and require guidance from the Court of Justice of the European Union; therefore, a preliminary reference under Article 267 TFEU is appropriate.

Citation
[2014] ScotCS CSIH_38
Parties
Petitioner and Reclaimer: Scotch Whisky Association; Petitioner and Reclaimer: CEPS (Confédération Européenne des Producteurs Spiriteux); Petitioner and Reclaimer: CEEV (Comité de la Communauté économique européenne des industries et du commerce des vins, vins aromatises, vins mousseux, vins de liqueur et autres produits de la vigne); First Respondent: The Lord Advocate; Second Respondent: The Advocate General for Scotland
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Judgment Date
30 April 2014
Procedural Posture
Reclaiming Motion in Petition for Judicial Review / Decision on Whether to Refer EU Law Questions to the Court of Justice
Outcome
Court will make a preliminary reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union under Article 267 TFEU.
Legal Topics
Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol, Article 34 and 36 TFEU, Preliminary Reference Procedure, Market Organisation for Wine, Technical Standards Directive
European Union Law Constitutional Law Administrative Law Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol Article 34 and 36 TFEU Preliminary Reference Procedure Market Organisation for Wine Technical Standards Directive

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Parties

Scotch Whisky Association

Petitioner and Reclaimer

CEPS (Confédération Européenne des Producteurs Spiriteux)

Petitioner and Reclaimer

CEEV (Comité de la Communauté économique européenne des industries et du commerce des vins, vins aromatises, vins mousseux, vins de liqueur et autres produits de la vigne)

Petitioner and Reclaimer

The Lord Advocate

First Respondent

The Advocate General for Scotland

Second Respondent

Procedural Posture

Reclaiming Motion in Petition for Judicial Review / Decision on Whether to Refer EU Law Questions to the Court of Justice

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Compatibility of minimum unit pricing with EU law
  2. 2 Justification of quantitative restrictions under Article 36 TFEU
  3. 3 Role of national court in EU law tests

Ratio Decidendi

The court determined that the EU law issues raised by the challenge to minimum unit pricing are not acte clair and require guidance from the Court of Justice of the European Union; therefore, a preliminary reference under Article 267 TFEU is appropriate.

Court Disposition

Court will make a preliminary reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union under Article 267 TFEU.

Orders

  • Parties are allowed three weeks to lodge written notes of factual inaccuracies or infelicities in the draft reference.
  • Court will proceed to final adjustment and submission of its reference to the Court of Justice.