Case C‑636/11

Karl Berger

v

Freistaat Bayern

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Landgericht München I)

(Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 — Consumer protection — Food safety — Public information — Placing on the market of food unfit for human consumption, but not constituting a health risk)

Summary — Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber), 11 April 2013

1.        Questions referred for a preliminary ruling — Jurisdiction of the Court — Reformulation of questions which are improperly formulated or not expressly set out

(Art. 267 TFEU)

2.        Consumer protection — Food safety — Regulation No 178/2002 — Placing on the market of food unfit for human consumption, but not constituting a health risk — National legislation allowing information to be issued to the public in relation to the name of the food and the name of the food manufacturer, processor or distributor — Lawfulness

(European Parliament and Council Regulations No 178/2002, Arts 10 and 17(2), second para., and No 882/2004, Art. 7)

1.        See the text of the decision.

(see para. 31)

2.        Article 10 of Regulation No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety, must be interpreted as not precluding national legislation allowing information to be issued to the public mentioning the name of a food and the name or trade name of the food manufacturer, processor or distributor, in a case where that food, though not injurious to health, is unfit for human consumption. The second subparagraph of Article 17(2) of that regulation must be interpreted as allowing national authorities to issue such information to the public in accordance with the requirements of Article 7 of Regulation No 882/2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules.

(see para. 37, operative part)