JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Fifth Chamber)

16 March 2004

In Joined Cases C-264/01, C-306/01, C-354/01 and C-355/01 (Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf and from the Bundesgerichtshof): AOK Bundesverband and Others v Ichthyol-Gesellschaft Cordes, Hermani & Co., Mundipharma GmbH, Gödecke GmbH, Intersan, Institut für pharmazeutische und klinische Forschung GmbH (1)

(Competition - Undertakings - Sickness funds - Agreements, decisions and concerted practices - Interpretation of Articles 81 EC, 82 EC and 86 EC - Decisions of groups of sickness funds determining maximum amounts paid in respect of medicinal products))

(2004/C 94/03)

Language of the case: German

In Joined Cases C-264/01, C-306/01, C-354/01 and C-355/01: References to the Court under Article 234 EC by the Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf (Germany) and by the Bundesgerichtshof (Germany) for preliminary rulings in the proceedings pending before those courts between AOK Bundesverband, Bundesverband der Betriebskrankenkassen (BKK), Bundesverband der Innungskrankenkassen, Bundesverband der landwirtschaftlichen Krankenkassen, Verband der Angestelltenkrankenkassen eV, Verband der Arbeiter-Ersatzkassen, Bundesknappschaft, See-Krankenkasse and Ichthyol-Gesellschaft Cordes, Hermani & Co. (C-264/01), Mundipharma GmbH (C-306/01), Gödecke GmbH (C-354/01), Intersan, Institut für pharmazeutische und klinische Forschung GmbH (C-355/01), on the interpretation of Articles 81 EC, 82 EC and 86 EC, the Court (Fifth Chamber), composed of: V. Skouris, President, P. Jann, C.W.A. Timmermans, C. Gulmann, J.N. Cunha Rodrigues and A. Rosas (Presidents of Chambers), J.-P. Puissochet, R. Schintgen, F. Macken, N. Colneric and S. von Bahr (Rapporteur), Judges; F.G. Jacobs, Advocate General; H.A. Rühl, Principal Administrator, for the Registrar, has given a judgment on 16 March 2004, in which it has ruled:

Groups of sickness funds, such as the AOK Bundesverband, the Bundesverband der Betriebskrankenkassen (BKK), the Bundesverband der Innungskrankenkassen, the Bundesverband der landwirtschaftlichen Krankenkassen, the Verband der Angestelltenkrankenkassen eV, the Verband der Arbeiter-Ersatzkassen, the Bundesknappschaft and the See-Krankenkasse, do not constitute undertakings or associations of undertakings within the meaning of Article 81 EC when they determine fixed maximum amounts corresponding to the upper limit of the price of medicinal products whose cost is borne by sickness funds.

(1)  OJ C 303 of 27.10.2001, and OJ L 348 of 08.12.2001.