Opinion of the Advocate General — ECLI:EU:C:2016:39
Date: 2016-01-21
Language of the case: German
Subject matter: Approximation of laws
Procedure: Reference for a preliminary ruling
Origin: Germany

Summary — Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber), 9 November 2016 1. EU law — Interpretation — Taking account of the context and usual meaning of the terms 2. Approximation of laws — Novel foods and novel food ingredients — Placing on the market — Regulation No 258/97 — Scope — Foods and food ingredients with a new primary molecular structure — Definition (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 258/97, as amended by Regulation No 596/2009, Art. 1(2)(c)) 1. See the text of the decision. (see para. 26) 2. Article 1(2)(c) of Regulation No 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients, as amended by Regulation No 596/2009, must be interpreted as meaning that the expression ‘new primary molecular structure’ relates to foods or food ingredients which were not used for human consumption in the territory of the European Union before 15 May 1997. (see para. 36, operative part)