Action brought on 9 January 2012 - Andechser Molkerei Scheitz v Commission

(Case T-13/12)

Language of the case: German

Parties

Applicant: Andechser Molkerei Scheitz GmbH (Andechs, Germany) (represented by: H. Schmidt, lawyer)

Defendant: European Commission

Form of order sought

Annul Commission Regulation (EU) No 1131/2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to steviol glycosides, in so far as it authorises steviol glycosides extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant for use only as food additives and not as plant-based food ingredients of agricultural origin or as natural flavouring preparations;

In essence, declare that the European Union is obliged to compensate the applicant for the damage arising from the fact that Commission Regulation (EU) No 1131/2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council authorises steviol glycosides extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant for use only as food additives and not as plant-based food ingredients of agricultural origin or as natural flavouring preparations, and other undertakings therefore use steviol glycosides in the production of their conventional milk-based products, thereby forcing the applicant out of the market, while the applicant, as an organic dairy and producer of organic products, is prevented by the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 and Regulation No 889/2008 from using steviol glycosides as food additives, even where these are obtained by extraction from organically cultivated stevia leaves using the procedure approved under European Union law in respect of organic products.

Pleas in law and main arguments

The applicant challenges Commission Regulation (EU) No 1131/2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to steviol glycosides, ² in so far as it authorises steviol glycosides extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant for use only as food additives and not as plant-based food ingredients of agricultural origin or as natural flavouring preparations.

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

First plea in law, alleging infringement of the non ultra vires rule

The applicant submits, first, that the Commission has - wrongly - treated steviol glycosides extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant as a food additive, and thus exceeded the powers conferred on it in adopting the regulation at issue. Steviol glycosides are a sophisticated choice owing to their taste. Accordingly they are not used as food additives for a technological purpose in accordance with Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, ⁴ but exclusively for the purpose of imparting flavour and/or taste within the meaning of recital 5 in the preamble to that regulation. Steviol glycosides should therefore be categorised as plant-based food ingredients or natural flavouring preparations. Consequently the Commission acted ultra vires.

Second plea in law, alleging infringement of the fundamental right to equal treatment

Secondly, the applicant alleges infringement of its fundamental right to equal treatment in the sense that arbitrary decisions are prohibited; as an organic dairy, it is prevented from producing and marketing organic yoghurt with organic steviol glycosides, whereas its competitors, who produce yoghurts in conventional agriculture, are permitted to use steviol glycosides. The use of organic steviol glycosides as a food additive is prohibited under Article 19(2)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007,  according to which only food additives which have been authorised for organic products may be used in production. No such authorisation was forthcoming either in Article 27(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 889/2008  or as a result of inclusion in the positive list in Section A of Annex VIII to that regulation. By approving steviol glycosides as food additives only, the Commission therefore unlawfully interfered in the market to the benefit of producers of conventional products, thereby impeding competition.

Third plea in law, alleging infringement of the fundamental right to the protection of property and of the freedom to exercise an economic activity

Thirdly, the applicant alleges infringement of its fundamental right to the protection of property and of its freedom to exercise an economic activity.

Fourth plea in law, alleging a failure to state reasons

The reasons given for Regulation No 1131/2011 are, moreover, insufficient, as no explanation is given in the recitals in the preamble as to why steviol glycosides, which serve only to impart flavour, to sweeten and to add a slightly tart taste, are treated as food additives.

____________

¹ - Commission Regulation (EU) No 1131/2011 of 11 November 2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to steviol glycosides (OJ 2011 L 295, p. 205).

² - Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives (OJ 2008 L 354, p. 16).

³ - Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (OJ 2007 L 189, p. 1).

⁴ - Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control (OJ 2008 L 250, p. 1).