7.9.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 260/43

Action brought on 4 July 2013 — Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks v Commission

(Case T-354/13)

2013/C 260/78

Language of the case: German

Parties

Applicant: Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks e.V. (Berlin, Germany) (represented by: I. Jung, M. Teworte-Vey, A. Renvert and J. T. Saatkamp, lawyers)

Defendant: European Commission

Form of order sought

The applicant claims that the General Court should:

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annul the defendant’s decision of 8 April 2013 in the cases ‘Kołocz śląski/Kołacz śląski’ — Schlesischer Streuselkuchen (Ref. Ares [2013] 619104 — 10 April 2013).

Pleas in law and main arguments

In support of the action, the applicant relies on two pleas in law.

1.

First plea in law: incorrect legal basis

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The applicant claims that the defendant erred in law in basing its decision concerning the applicant’s request for cancellation of the registration of ‘Kołocz śląski/Kołacz śląski’ as a protected geographical indication on the new version of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, (1) in force at the time of the defendant’s decision, instead of on the old Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, (2) in force at the time when the applicant submitted its request. The defendant thereby infringed the principle of tempus regit actum.

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The applicant further claims that the request for cancellation of the registration under Regulation No 510/2006 is admissible and well founded. In this connection, it maintains, inter alia, that there are two grounds for cancellation (the generic nature of the contested indication within the meaning of Article 3(1) of Regulation No 510/2006, and the erroneous delimitation of the geographic zone of Silesia in the registration specifications) for the purpose of Article 12(2) of Regulation No 510/2006, and that any different interpretation and application of that provision would infringe the fundamental rights of bakeries in the Federal Republic of Germany.

2.

Second plea in law: breach of Regulation No 1151/2012

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The applicant claims that its request would be admissible and well founded even if it were assessed on the basis of Regulation No 1151/2012.

(1)  Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ 2012 L 343, p. 1).

(2)  Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ 2006 L 93, p. 12).