Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesgerichtshof (Germany) lodged on 26 June 2023 — Novel Nutriology GmbH v Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb e.V.

(Case C-386/23, Novel Nutriology)

(2023/C 338/13)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Bundesgerichtshof

Parties to the main proceedings

Defendant and appellant in the appeal on a point of law: Novel Nutriology GmbH

Applicant and respondent in the appeal on a point of law: Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb e.V.

Questions referred

The following question is referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of Article 10(1) and (3) and Article 28(5) and (6) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, (1) as last amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 1047/2012 (2) of 8 November 2012, and recitals 10 and 11 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health, (3) and recitals 4 and 5 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 536/2013 (4) of 11 June 2013 amending Regulation (EU) No 432/2012:

May plant or herbal substances (‘botanicals’) be advertised with health claims (Article 10(1) of Regulation [EC] No 1924/2006) or with references to general, non-specific benefits of the nutrient or food for overall good health or health-related well-being (Article 10(3) of Regulation [EC] No 1924/2006) without those claims being authorised under that regulation and included in the list of authorised claims pursuant to Articles 13 and 14 of the Regulation (Article 10(1) of the Regulation) or without those references being accompanied by a specific health claim contained in one of the lists referred to in Articles 13 or 14 of the Regulation (Article 10(3) of the Regulation), pending completion of the evaluation by the Authority and the examination by the Commission of the inclusion of the claims notified in respect of ‘botanicals’ in the Community lists referred to in Articles 13 and 14 of Regulation [EC] No 1924/2006?

(1)   OJ 2006 L 404, p. 9.

(2)  Commission Regulation (EU) No 1047/2012 of 8 November 2012 amending Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 with regard to the list of nutrition claims (OJ 2012 L 310, p. 36).

(3)   OJ 2012 L 136, p. 1.

(4)  Commission Regulation (EU) No 536/2013 of 11 June 2013 amending Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health (OJ 2013 L 160, p. 4).