# C_2016305EN.01001401.xml

| 22.8.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 305/14 |
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22.8.2016

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 305/14

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Request for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal Supremo (Spain) lodged on 25 May 2016 — Sharda Europe, B.V.B.A. v Administración del Estado, Syngenta Agro, S.A.

(Case C-293/16)

(2016/C 305/20)

Language of the case: Spanish

Referring court

Referring court

Tribunal Supremo, Sala de lo Contencioso-Administrativo, Sección Cuarta

Parties to the main proceedings

Parties to the main proceedings

Appellant: Sharda Europe, B.V.B.A.

Appellant:

Respondents: Administración del Estado, Syngenta Agro, S.A.

Respondents:

Questions referred

Questions referred

| 1. | As there is divergence between the different language versions of Article 3(2) of Commission Directive 2008/69/EC (1) of 1 July 2008 and a possible discrepancy with Recital 7 of the preamble to the Directive, the following question is referred to the Court of Justice:
  Is the date 31 December 2008 in Article 3(2) of Commission Directive 2008/69/EC of 1 July 2008, in its Spanish version, to be understood as the expiry of the deadline for the Member States to carry out a re-evaluation, or as the final date for inclusion in the list in Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC (2) of the active substances which must be re-evaluated, or as the final day for submitting the corresponding application for inclusion? |
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1.

As there is divergence between the different language versions of Article 3(2) of Commission Directive 2008/69/EC (1) of 1 July 2008 and a possible discrepancy with Recital 7 of the preamble to the Directive, the following question is referred to the Court of Justice:

1

Is the date 31 December 2008 in Article 3(2) of Commission Directive 2008/69/EC of 1 July 2008, in its Spanish version, to be understood as the expiry of the deadline for the Member States to carry out a re-evaluation, or as the final date for inclusion in the list in Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC (2) of the active substances which must be re-evaluated, or as the final day for submitting the corresponding application for inclusion?

2

| 2. | Is the expression ‘by 31 December 2008 at the latest’ in Article 3(2) of Directive 2008/69/EC a fixed deadline on account of the aim pursued by the system established by Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991, and does it preclude the Member States from extending it, with the result that it is calculated according to that directive? |
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2.

Is the expression ‘by 31 December 2008 at the latest’ in Article 3(2) of Directive 2008/69/EC a fixed deadline on account of the aim pursued by the system established by Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991, and does it preclude the Member States from extending it, with the result that it is calculated according to that directive?

| 3. | If it is understood that the deadline may be extended, may it be extended for objective reasons of force majeure or may the Member States, to which the mandate in Article 3 is addressed, extend it in accordance with the conditions and requirements of their national legislation? |
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3.

If it is understood that the deadline may be extended, may it be extended for objective reasons of force majeure or may the Member States, to which the mandate in Article 3 is addressed, extend it in accordance with the conditions and requirements of their national legislation?

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(1)  Commission Directive 2008/69/EC of 1 July 2008 amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include clofentezine, dicamba, difenoconazole, diflubenzuron, imazaquin, lenacil, oxadiazon, picloram and pyriproxyfen as active substances.

1

OJ 2008 L 172, p. 9.

(2)  Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market.

2

OJ 1991 L 230, p. 1.

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