Case C‑307/13
Lars Ivansson and Others
(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Helsingborgs tingsrätt)
(Reference for a preliminary ruling — Internal market — Directive 98/34/EC — Third subparagraph of Article 8(1) — Information procedure in the field of technical rules and regulations — Notion of ‘technical regulation’ — Hens for egg production — Shortening of a timetable for implementation originally envisaged for the entry into force of the technical rule — Obligation to notify — Conditions — Discrepancies between language versions)
Summary — Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber), 10 July 2014
1.        Approximation of laws — Information procedure in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services — Directive 98/34 — Technical regulation — Concept — National provisions laying down the requirement that hens for egg production are to be kept in housing systems which meet the hens’ need for nests, perches and sand-baths and that the housing system is to be such that the mortality rate and behaviour disorders in the hens are kept to a low level — Assessment by the national court
(European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34, as amended by Directive 98/48, Art. 1, point 11)
2.        EU law — Interpretation — Texts in several languages — Uniform interpretation — Differences between the various language versions — Taking accountf the purpose and general scheme of the rules
3.        Approximation of laws — Information procedure in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services — Directive 98/34 — Purpose
(European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34, as amended by Directive 98/48)
4.        Approximation of laws — Information procedure in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services — Directive 98/34 — Obligation on Member States to notify the Commission of all draft technical regulations — Obligation to make a new notification in respect of amendment — Scope — Significant shortening of a timetable for entry into force of a national measure — Assessment of the significance of the shortening of the timetable by the national court
(European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34, as amended by Directive 98/48, Art. 8(1), third para.)
5.        Approximation of laws — Information procedure in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services — Directive 98/34 –Obligation on Member States to notify the Commission of all draft technical regulations — Obligation to notify any significant shortening of a timetable for entry into force of that rule — Breach of that obligation — Consequence — Rules not notified cannot be enforced against individuals
(European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34, as amended by Directive 98/48, Art. 8(1), third para.)
1.        See the text of the decision.
(see paras 16-33)
2.        See the text of the decision.
(see para. 40)
3.        See the text of the decision.
(see para. 41)
4.        The date finally chosen by the national authorities for the entry into force of a national measure laying down the requirement that hens for egg production are to be kept in housing systems which meet the hens’ need for nests, perches and sand-baths and that the housing system is to be such that the mortality rate and behaviour disorders in the hens are kept to a low level, is subject to the obligation of communication to the European Commission, as laid down in the third subparagraph of Article 8(1) of Directive 98/34 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services, as amended by Directive 98/48, where a change to the timetable for the implementation of that national measure was, in effect, made, and was significant in nature, which it is for the national court to ascertain.
(see para. 46, operative part 1)
5.        If the shortening of the timetable for the entry into force of a technical regulation is subject to the obligation of communication to the European Commission, as laid down in the third subparagraph of Article 8(1) of Directive 98/34 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services, as amended by Directive 98/48, the failure to make such a communication would render that national measure inapplicable, such that it could not be enforced against individuals.
(see para. 50, operative part 2)