Order — ECLI:EU:C:2008:543
Date: 2008-10-06
Language of the case: French
Court formation: Sixth Chamber
Based on: Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (1957)
Subject matter: Agriculture and Fisheries;Sugar
Concepts: Production levy
Procedure: Reference for a preliminary ruling
Origin: France

Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal de Grande instance de Nanterre (France) lodged on 2 April 2007 - 1.S.A. SAFBA v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 2. S.A. Sucreries et Raffineries d'Erstein v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 3.SA Sucreries & Distilleries de Souppes - Ouvré Fils v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 4. SA Sucrerie de Bourgogne v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 5. Sucrerie Bourdon v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 6. S.A. des Sucreries du Marquenterre v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 7. Cristal Union v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 8. S.A. Lesaffre Frères v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 9. Sociéte Vermendoise Industries v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers, 10. S.A.Sucreries de Toury et Usines annexes v Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers (Case C-175/07) (Case C-176/07) (Case C-177/07) (Case C-178/07) (Case C-179/07) (Case C-180/07) (Case C-181/07) (Case C-182/07) (Case C-183/07) (Case C-184/07) Language of the case: French Referring court Tribunal de Grande instance de Nanterre Parties to the main proceedings Applicants: S.A. SAFBA (C-175/07), S.A.. Sucreries et Raffineries d'Erstein (C-176/07), SA Sucreries & Distilleries de Souppes - Ouvré Fils (C-177/07), SA Sucrerie de Bourgogne (C-178/07), Sucrerie Bourdon (C-179/07), S.A. des Sucreries du Marquenterre (C-180/07), Cristal Union (C-181/07), S.A. Lesaffre Frères (C-182/07), Sociéte Vermendoise Industries (C-183/07), S.A. Sucreries de Toury et Usines annexes (C-184/07) Defendants: Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects and Receveur principal des douanes et droits indirects de Gennevilliers Questions referred 1. Is Commission Regulation No 314/2002 1 invalid in the light of Article 15 of Council Regulation No 1260/2001 on the common organisation of the markets in the sugar sector 2 and in the light of the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination, in that it does not provide, for calculation of the contribution on production, for the exclusion from the financing requirements of those quantities of sugar contained in processed products, which are exported without benefit of an export refund? In the event that the answer to that question is in the negative: 2. Is Regulation No 1686/2005 3 invalid in the light of Commission Regulation No 314/2002 and of Article 15 of Council Regulation No 1260/2001 and of the principle of proportionality, in that it fixes a contribution on production for sugar which is calculated on the basis of an 'average loss' per tonne exported, which does not take account of the quantities exported without a refund, although those same quantities are included in the total used for evaluation of the total loss to be financed? ____________ 1 - Commission Regulation (EC) No 314/2002 of 20 February 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of the quota system in the sugar sector (OJ 2002 L50, p. 40). 2 - Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 of 19 June 2001 on the common organisation of the markets in the sugar sector (OJ 2001 L 178, p. 1). 3 - Commission Regulation (EC) No 1686/2005 of 14 October 2005 setting the production levies and the coefficient for the additional levy in the sugar sector for the 2004/05 marketing year (OJ 2005 L 271, p. 12).