Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 61976J0107

**Judgment of the Court of 24 May 1977. - Hoffmann-La Roche AG v Centrafarm Vertriebsgesellschaft Pharmazeutischer Erzeugnisse mbH. - Reference for a preliminary ruling: Oberlandesgericht Karlsruhe - Germany. - Interpretation of Article 177. - Case 107-76.** 
  
*European Court reports 1977 Page 00957  
 Greek special edition Page 00275  
 Portuguese special edition Page 00333  
 Spanish special edition Page 00243  
 Swedish special edition Page 00375  
 Finnish special edition Page 00401*

  

[Summary](#SM)  
[Parties](#I1)  
[Subject of the case](#I2)  
[Grounds](#MO)  
[Decision on costs](#CO)  
[Operative part](#DI)

## Keywords

  
*1 . QUESTIONS REFERRED FOR A PRELIMINARY RULING - INTERLOCUTORY PROCEEDINGS FOR AN INTERIM ORDER - REFERENCE OF SUCH CASES TO THE COURT - VALIDITY

( EEC TREATY , SECOND PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 177 )

2 . QUESTIONS REFERRED FOR A PRELIMINARY RULING - INTERLOCUTORY PROCEEDINGS FOR AN INTERIM ORDER ( ' EINSTWEILIGE VERFUGUNG ' ) - REFERENCE OF SUCH CASES TO THE COURT - PROCEEDINGS ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CASE - INSTITUTION THEREOF - POSSIBILITY - DUTY TO REFER CASES TO THE COURT - NONE

( EEC TREATY , THIRD PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 177 )*

## Summary

  
*1 . THE SUMMARY AND URGENT CHARACTER OF A PROCEDURE IN THE NATIONAL COURT DOES NOT PREVENT THE COURT FROM REGARDING ITSELF AS VALIDLY SEISED UNDER THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 177 WHENEVER A NATIONAL COURT OR TRIBUNAL CONSIDERS THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE USE OF THAT PARAGRAPH .

2 . THE THIRD PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 177 OF THE EEC TREATY MUST BE INTERPRETED AS MEANING THAT A NATIONAL COURT OR TRIBUNAL IS NOT REQUIRED TO REFER TO THE COURT A QUESTION OF INTERPRETATION OR VALIDITY MENTIONED IN THAT ARTICLE WHEN THE QUESTION IS RAISED IN INTERLOCUTORY PROCEEDINGS FOR AN INTERIM ORDER ( ' EINSTWEILIGE VERFUGUNG ' ) EVEN WHERE NO JUDICIAL REMEDY IS AVAILABLE AGAINST THE DECISION TO BE TAKEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THOSE PROCEEDINGS , PROVIDED THAT EACH OF THE PARTIES IS ENTITLED TO INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS OR TO REQUIRE PROCEEDINGS TO BE INSTITUTED ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CASE AND THAT DURING SUCH PROCEEDINGS THE QUESTION PROVISIONALLY DECIDED IN THE SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS MAY BE RE-EXAMINED AND MAY BE THE SUBJECT OF A REFERENCE TO THE COURT UNDER ARTICLE 177 .*

## Parties

  
*IN CASE 107/76

REFERENCE TO THE COURT UNDER ARTICLE 177 OF THE EEC TREATY BY THE OBERLANDESGERICHT KARLSRUHE FOR A PRELIMINARY RULING IN THE ACTION PENDING BEFORE THAT COURT BETWEEN

HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE , GRENZACH-WYHLEN ( GERMANY )

AND

CENTRAFARM VERTRIEBSGESELLSCHAFT PHARMAZEUTISCHER ERZEUGNISSE MBH , BENTHEIM ( GERMANY ),*

## Subject of the case

  
*ON THE INTERPRETATION OF ARTICLES 30 , 36 , 86 AND 177 OF THE SAID TREATY ,*

## Grounds

[Top](#document1)