# C_2012250EN.01001901.xml

| 18.8.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 250/19 |
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Action brought on 2 July 2012 — Health Food Manufacturer’s Association and Others v Commission

(Case T-296/12)

2012/C 250/35

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicants: The Health Food Manufacturer’s Association (East Molesey, United Kingdom); Quest Vitamins Ltd (Birmingham, United Kingdom); Natures Aid Ltd (Kirkham, United Kingdom); Natuur- & gezonheidsProducten Nederland (Ermelo, Netherlands); et New Care Supplements BV (Oisterwijk, Netherlands) (represented by: B. Kelly and G. Castle, Solicitors, and P. Bogaert, lawyer)

Defendant: European Commission

Form of order sought

| — | Annul Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health (OJ L 136, p. 1); |
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| — | Annul Commission Decision of 16 May 2012 adopting a list of permitted health claims and creating a list of so-called on-hold health claims that are neither rejected nor authorised by the Commission; |
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| — | Order the defendant to pay the costs. |
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Pleas in law and main arguments

In support of their action, the applicants rely on three pleas in law, alleging that the contested Regulation is illegal for the following reasons:

| 1. | First plea in law, that
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the adoption of a permitted list of general function health claims while keeping certain claims under the transitional measures of Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (i.e. splitting the assessment process and adopting a partial list of claims under article 13(1)) lacks any legal basis. It further infringes the principles of good administration, legal certainty and non-discrimination for a number of reasons, including: there was no justification for the splitting of the process; the split lacked transparency; there was no consultation or adequate reasons given for the split; some claims are put ‘on-hold’ and continue to benefit from the existing transitional periods under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (despite the legal uncertainty of those transitional periods). | — | the adoption of a permitted list of general function health claims while keeping certain claims under the transitional measures of Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (i.e. splitting the assessment process and adopting a partial list of claims under article 13(1)) lacks any legal basis. It further infringes the principles of good administration, legal certainty and non-discrimination for a number of reasons, including: there was no justification for the splitting of the process; the split lacked transparency; there was no consultation or adequate reasons given for the split; some claims are put ‘on-hold’ and continue to benefit from the existing transitional periods under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (despite the legal uncertainty of those transitional periods). |
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| — | the adoption of a permitted list of general function health claims while keeping certain claims under the transitional measures of Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (i.e. splitting the assessment process and adopting a partial list of claims under article 13(1)) lacks any legal basis. It further infringes the principles of good administration, legal certainty and non-discrimination for a number of reasons, including: there was no justification for the splitting of the process; the split lacked transparency; there was no consultation or adequate reasons given for the split; some claims are put ‘on-hold’ and continue to benefit from the existing transitional periods under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (despite the legal uncertainty of those transitional periods). | | |

| 2. | Second plea in law, that
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the non-inclusion of many health claims in the permitted list infringes Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 by applying improper assessment criteria, infringes the principle of good administration, legal certainty and the duty of collaboration with national food authorities and the obligation to provide adequate reasons. | — | the non-inclusion of many health claims in the permitted list infringes Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 by applying improper assessment criteria, infringes the principle of good administration, legal certainty and the duty of collaboration with national food authorities and the obligation to provide adequate reasons. |
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| — | the non-inclusion of many health claims in the permitted list infringes Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 by applying improper assessment criteria, infringes the principle of good administration, legal certainty and the duty of collaboration with national food authorities and the obligation to provide adequate reasons. | | |

| 3. | Third plea in law, that
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if the pleas submitted above are not upheld, the applicants allege that the Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 itself is void because of breach of the right to be heard and breach of legal certainty. The illegality of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 is invoked in this application pursuant to Article 277 TFEU and supports the illegality of Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. | — | if the pleas submitted above are not upheld, the applicants allege that the Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 itself is void because of breach of the right to be heard and breach of legal certainty. The illegality of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 is invoked in this application pursuant to Article 277 TFEU and supports the illegality of Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. |
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| — | if the pleas submitted above are not upheld, the applicants allege that the Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 itself is void because of breach of the right to be heard and breach of legal certainty. The illegality of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 is invoked in this application pursuant to Article 277 TFEU and supports the illegality of Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. | | |

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