Case C‑786/18
ratiopharm GmbH
v
Novartis Consumer Health GmbH
(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesgerichtshof)
Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 11 June 2020
(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Protection of public health – Internal market – Medicinal products for human use – Directive 2001/83/EC – Advertising – Article 96 – Distribution of free samples of medicinal products to persons qualified to prescribe them – Pharmacists excluded from the distribution of free samples of medicinal products – Inapplicability to distribution of free samples of non-prescription medicinal products – Consequences for the Member States)
1.        EU law – Interpretation – Methods – Literal, systematic and teleological interpretation – Directive 2001/83 – Consideration of different language versions
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2001/83, as amended by Directive 2004/27, Art. 96(1))
(see paragraphs 28-30)
2.        Approximation of laws – Medicinal products for human use – Directive 2001/83 – Advertising – Distribution of free samples of medicinal products to persons qualified to prescribe them
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2001/83, as amended by Directive 2004/27, Arts 1(19) and 96(1))
(see paragraphs 37-39, 43, 44, 47, 51-53, operative part)
See the text of the decision.