Case C‑7/23

Marvesa Rotterdam NV

v

Federaal Agentschap voor de veiligheid van de voedselketen (FAVV)

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Raad van State)

Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber), 21 March 2024

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Agriculture – Approximation of health legislation – Animal health policy – Veterinary checks – Products of animal origin imported from China – Import ban – Decision 2002/994/EC – Exemption for certain products – Part I of the annex – Fishery products – Definition – Fish oil – Products intended for animal feed – Validity)

1. Agriculture – Approximation of laws on animal health – Veterinary checks on products from third countries – Directive 97/78 – Protective measures – Ban on the import of products of animal origin from China – Exemptions – Fishery products – Definition – Products for human consumption – Included – Fish oil intended for animal feed – Not included

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 853/2004; Council Directive 97/78; Commission Decision 2002/994, Annex, Part I)

   (see paragraphs 25, 34, 36-45, 50, 51)

2. Acts of the institutions – Interpretation – Compliance with the requirements of unity and consistency in the EU legal order – Giving of the same meaning to the terms used by the measures adopted in the same sector

   (see paragraph 35)

3. Agriculture – Approximation of laws on animal health – Veterinary checks on products from third countries – Directive 97/78 – Protective measures – Ban on the import of products of animal origin from China – Fish oil intended for animal feed – Included – Different treatment of fish oil intended for human consumption and that intended for animal feed – Justification based on the potential risks to human health or to animal health – Whether permissible – Breach of the principle of proportionality – No such breach

   (Council Directive 97/78, Art. 22(1); Commission Decision 2002/994, Annex, Part I)

   (see paragraphs 25, 54-56, 58-60)

See the text of the decision.