# C_2004106EN.01000201.xml

| 30.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 106/2 |
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30.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 106/2

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JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Sixth Chamber)

of 25 March 2004

in Joined Cases C-480/00 to 482/00, C-484/00, C-489/00 to C-491/00 and C-497/00 to C-499/00 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunale amministrativo regionale del Lazio): Azienda Agricola Ettore Ribaldi v Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica and Others (1)

1

(Agriculture - Common organisation of the markets - Milk and milk products - Additional levy on milk - Regulations (EEC) Nos 3950/92 and 536/93 - Reference quantities - Ex post correction - Notification of producers)

(2004/C 106/02)

Language of the case: Italian

In Joined Cases C-480/00 to 482/00, C-484/00, C-489/00 to C-491/00 and C-497/00 to C-499/00 – reference to the Court under Article 234 EC by the Tribunale amministrativo regionale del Lazio (Italy) for a preliminary ruling in the proceedings pending before that court between Azienda Agricola Ettore Ribaldi and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica, intervener: Caseificio Nazionale Novarese Soc. coop. arl (C-480/00), between Domenico Buttiglione and Others and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali (C-481/00), between Azienda Agricola Ettore Raffa and Others and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica (C-482/00), between Carlo Balestreri and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica, intervener: Parmalat SpA (C-484/00) between Azienda Agricola 'Corte delle Piacentine' and Others and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA) (C-489/00), between Cesare e Michele Filippi ss and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica (C-490/00), between Cooperativa Produttori Latte Associati della Lessinia arl and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica (C-491/00), between Azienda Agricola Simone e Stefano Gonal di Gonzato and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica (C-497/00), between Azienda Agricola Gianluigi Cerati e Maria Ceriali ss and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica (C-498/00), and between Nicolò Musini, acting for l'Azienda Agricola Tenuta di Fassia, and Azienda di Stato per gli interventi nel mercato agricolo (AIMA), Ministero del Tesoro, del Bilancio e della Programmazione Economica, intervener: Cooperativa Produttori Latte Soc. coop. arl (C-499/00), on the interpretation and validity of Articles 1, 2 and 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 of 28 December 1992 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector (OJ 1992 L 405, p. 1), and of Articles 3 and 4 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 536/93 of 9 March 1993 laying down detailed rules on the application of the additional levy on milk and milk products (OJ 1993 L 57, p. 12), the Court (Sixth Chamber) – composed of: V. Skouris (Rapporteur), acting for the President of the Sixth Chamber, C. Gulmann, J.-P. Puissochet, F. Macken and N. Colneric, Judges, P. Léger, Advocate General, L. Hewlett and H.A. Rühl, Principal Administrators, for the Registrar, has given judgment on 25 March 2004, in which it:

| 1. | On a proper construction of Articles 1 and 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 of 28 December 1992 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector, and Articles 3 and 4 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 536/93 of 9 March 1993 laying down detailed rules on the application of the additional levy on milk and milk products, it is not contrary to those provisions for a Member State, after checks have been carried out, to correct the individual reference quantities allocated to each producer and, after the unused reference quantities have been reallocated, to recalculate in consequence the additional levies payable, after the final date for payment of those levies for the production period concerned. |
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1.

On a proper construction of Articles 1 and 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 of 28 December 1992 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector, and Articles 3 and 4 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 536/93 of 9 March 1993 laying down detailed rules on the application of the additional levy on milk and milk products, it is not contrary to those provisions for a Member State, after checks have been carried out, to correct the individual reference quantities allocated to each producer and, after the unused reference quantities have been reallocated, to recalculate in consequence the additional levies payable, after the final date for payment of those levies for the production period concerned.

| 2. | Regulations Nos 3950/92 and 536/92 are to be interpreted as requiring that the original allocation of individual reference quantities and any later alteration to them should be notified to the producers concerned by the competent national authorities.
  The principle of legal certainty demands that that communication should be of such a nature as to give the natural or legal persons concerned all information relating to the original allocation of their individual reference quantity or later alteration to it. It is for the national court to determine, on the basis of the facts before it, whether that is so in the cases in the main proceedings. |
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2.

Regulations Nos 3950/92 and 536/92 are to be interpreted as requiring that the original allocation of individual reference quantities and any later alteration to them should be notified to the producers concerned by the competent national authorities.

The principle of legal certainty demands that that communication should be of such a nature as to give the natural or legal persons concerned all information relating to the original allocation of their individual reference quantity or later alteration to it. It is for the national court to determine, on the basis of the facts before it, whether that is so in the cases in the main proceedings.

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(1)  OJ C 108 of 7.4.2001.

1

OJ C 118 of 21.4.2001.

OJ C 134 of 30.5.2001.

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