Case C‑147/21

Comité interprofessionnel des huiles essentielles françaises (CIHEF) and Others

v

Ministre de la Transition écologique
and
Premier ministre

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Conseil d’État (France))

Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 19 January 2023

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Approximation of laws – Biocidal products – Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 – Article 72 – Free movement of goods – Article 34 TFEU – Possibility for Member States to adopt restrictive measures on commercial and advertising practices – Selling arrangements falling outside the scope of Article 34 TFEU – Whether justified – Article 36 TFEU – Objective of protecting human and animal health and the environment – Proportionality)

1. Free movement of goods – Quantitative restrictions – Measures having equivalent effect – National legislation prohibiting commercial practices such as discounts, price reductions, rebates, the differentiation of general and specific sales conditions, the gift of free units or any equivalent practices – Prohibition relating to biocidal products of product-types 14 and 18, included in group 3 – Whether permissible – Whether justified

   (Arts 34 and 36 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 528/2012, recitals 1 and 3 and Art. 72)

   (see paragraphs 50-59, operative part 2)

2. Free movement of goods – Quantitative restrictions – Measures having equivalent effect – Regulation No 528/2012 – Scope – National legislation requiring the affixing of a statement in addition to that provided for by the Regulation on advertisements addressed to professionals – Requirement relating to biocidal products of product-types 2 and 4, included in group 1, and 14 and 18, included in group 3 – Precluded

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 528/2012, recitals 1 and 3 and Art. 72)

   (see paragraphs 62-67, operative part 1)

3. Free movement of goods – Quantitative restrictions – Measures having equivalent effect – Regulation No 528/2012 – Scope – National legislation prohibiting advertising addressed to the general public – Prohibition relating to biocidal products of product-types 2 and 4, included in group 1, and 14 and 18, included in group 3 – Included

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 528/2012, recitals 1 and 3 and Art. 72)

   (see paragraphs 69, 70, operative part 1)

4. Free movement of goods – Quantitative restrictions – Measures having equivalent effect – National legislation prohibiting advertising addressed to the general public – Prohibition relating to biocidal products of product-types 2 and 4, included in group 1, and 14 and 18, included in group 3 – Whether permissible – Whether justified

   (Arts 34 and 36 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 528/2012, recitals 1 and 3 and Art. 72)

   (see paragraphs 72-84, operative part 2)

See the text of the decision.