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CJEU - C-157/14 / Judgment

Neptune Distribution v Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance
Policy area
Consumers
Deciding body type
Court of Justice of the European Union
Deciding body
Fourth Chamber
Type
Decision
Decision date
17/12/2015
ECLI (European case law identifier)
ECLI:EU:C:2015:823

Carta dei diritti fondamentali dell’Unione europea

Title II: Freedoms

Article 11 - Freedom of expression and information

Title II: Freedoms

Article 16 - Freedom to conduct a business

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  • CJEU - C-157/14 / Judgment

    Key facts of the case:

    Request for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 TFEU from the Conseil d’État (Council of State, France), made by decision of 26 March 2014, received at the Court on 4 April 2014, in the proceedings Neptune Distribution SNC v Ministre de l’Économie et des Finances (Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance).

    Reference for a preliminary ruling — Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 — Directive 2009/54/EC — Articles 11(1) and 16 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union — Consumer protection — Nutrition and health claims — Natural mineral waters — Sodium/salt content — Calculation — Sodium chloride (table salt) or total amount of sodium — Freedom of expression and information — Freedom to conduct a business.

    Results (sanctions) and key consequences of the case:

    ...the Court (Fourth Chamber) hereby rules:

    1. Article 8(1) 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, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 107/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008, read in conjunction with the annex thereto, must be interpreted as meaning that it prohibits the use of the claim ‘very low in sodium/salt’ and any claim likely to have the same meaning for the consumer as regards natural mineral waters and other waters.

    Article 9(2) of Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters, read in conjunction with Annex III thereto, must be interpreted as meaning that it precludes packaging, labels or advertising for natural mineral waters from displaying claims or indications suggesting to the consumer that the waters concerned are low in sodium or salt or are suitable for a low-sodium diet where the total sodium content, in all the chemical forms present, is equal to or more than 20 mg/l.

    2. The examination of the second question has not revealed any information capable of affecting the validity of Article 9(1) and (2) of Directive 2009/54, read in conjunction with Annex III thereto and with the annex to Regulation No 1924/2006.

  • Paragraphs referring to EU Charter

     

    63. In that regard, it must be recalled that the freedom of expression and information is enshrined in Article 11 of the Charter, which Article 6(1) TEU recognises as having the same legal value as the Treaties.

    64. That freedom is also protected in accordance with Article 10 of the ECHR, which applies, inter alia, as is clear from the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, to the circulation by an entrepreneur of commercial information in particular in the form of an advertising slogan (see European Court of Human Rights judgments in Casado Coca v. Spain, 24 February 1994, Series A no. 285‑A, §§ 35 and 36, and Krone Verlag GmbH & Co. KG (No. 3) v. Austria, no. 39069/97, ECHR 2003-XII, §§ 19 and 20).

    65. Since the freedom of expression and information laid down in Article 11 of the Charter has, as is clear from Article 52(3) thereof and the Explanations Relating to the Charter as regards Article 11, the same meaning and scope as the freedom guaranteed by the ECHR, it must be held that that freedom covers the use by a business, on packaging, labels and in advertising for natural mineral waters, of claims and indications referring to the sodium or salt content of such waters.

    66. Furthermore, it must be observed that the freedom to conduct a business protected, in accordance with Article 16 of the Charter, must be considered in relation to its social function (see, to that effect, judgment in Deutsches Weintor, C‑544/10, EU:C:2012:526, paragraph 54).

    67. The prohibition on the displaying on the packaging, labels and in the advertising for natural mineral waters of any claim or indication referring to the fact that such waters have a low sodium content which may mislead the consumer as to that content is an interference with the freedom of expression and information of the person carrying on that business and with his freedom to conduct that business.

    68. While those freedoms may nevertheless be limited, any limitation on their exercise must, in accordance with Article 52(1) of the Charter, be provided for by law and respect the essence of those rights and freedoms. Furthermore, as is clear from that provision, subject to the principle of proportionality, limitations may be made only if they are necessary and genuinely meet objectives of general interest recognised by the European Union or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others.