Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 12 July 2012 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf — Germany) — Fra.bo SpA v Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches eV (DVGW) — Technisch-Wissenschaftlicher Verein

(Case C-171/11) (1)

(Free movement of goods - Measures having equivalent effect to a quantitative restriction - National certification procedure - Presumption of compliance with national law - Applicability of Article 28 EC to a private-law certification body)

2012/C 287/20

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Fra.bo SpA

Defendant: Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches eV (DVGW) — Technisch-Wissenschaftlicher Verein

Re:

Reference for a preliminary ruling — Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf — Interpretation of Articles 34, 101 and 106(2) TFEU — Application of those provisions to the activity of a private-law association (Technisch-Wissenschaftlicher Verein), approved by a Member State as a certification body for certain products — Horizontal direct effect of Article 34 TFEU

Operative part of the judgment

Article 28 EC must be interpreted as meaning that it applies to standardisation and certification activities of a private-law body, where the national legislation considers the products certified by that body to be compliant with national law and that has the effect of restricting the marketing of products which are not certified by that body.

(1)  OJ C 226, 30.7.2011.