Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 91999E2789

**WRITTEN QUESTION P-2789/99 by Paul Coûteaux (UEN) to the Commission. The directive on labelling and the sale of French-labelled products in France.** 
  
*Official Journal 280 E , 03/10/2000 P. 0129 - 0130*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2789/99

by Paul Coûteaux (UEN) to the Commission

(7 January 2000)

Subject: The directive on labelling and the sale of French-labelled products in France

The Advocate-General, Mr Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer, believes that French legislation making it obligatory that food products in France be labelled in French infringes the European Directive on Labelling.

According to Mr Colomer, an obligation to make exclusive use of the language of a linguistic region which, in this case, coincides with the territory of the Member State, is a barrier to trade. He further believes that the Court of Justice has already made it clear in previous rulings that a language easily understood by the consumer does not necessarily mean an official language or a regional language.

Does the Commission agree with Mr Colomer's assessment?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 2000)

The Honourable Member is referring to the conclusions presented by the Advocate-General, Mr Damaso Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer, on 25 November 1999 in case C 366/98 Public Ministry v Yannick Geffroy.

The Commission does not wish to comment in this answer on the analysis developed by the Advocate-General before the Court has even given a ruling on the matter in question.

The Commission has itself submitted written observations regarding the case.

The Commission has in particular informed the Court in its written observations that national rules may generally require the use of the national language provided that the requirement is not systematic and can be lifted if, where a particular indication must appear on the label, the adequate provision of information to the purchaser can be ensured by an indication in another language or by other means (such as a pictogram).

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