Message 116
Communication from the Commission - SG(2012) D/52512
Directive 98/34/EC
Translation of the message 115
Notification: 2012/0394/UK
Forwarding of a detailed opinion received by a Member State (France) (article
9, paragraph 2, second indent of Directive 98/34/EC). This detailed opinion
extends the standstill period until 27-12-2012.
Comunicado detallado - Podrobné vyjádření - Udförlig udtalelse Ausführlichen Stellungnahme - Üksikasjalik arvamus - Εμπεριστατωμένη
γνώμη - Detailed opinion - Avis circonstancié - Parere circostanziado Detalizēts atzinums - Detali nuomonė - Részletes vélemény - Opinjoni
dettaljata - Uitvoerig gemotiveerde mening - Opinia szczegółowa - Parecer
circunstanciado - Podrobný úsudok - Podrobno mnenje - Yksityiskohtainen
lausunto - Detaljerat yttrande - Подробно становище - Aviz detaliat - Aviz
detaliat.
Amplia el plazo del estatu quo hasta 27-12-2012. - Prodlužuje lhůtu pro
stávající stav až do 27-12-2012. - Fristen for status quo forlänges til 27-122012. - Die Laufzeit des Status quo wird verlängert bis 27-12-2012. Praeguse olukorra tähtaega pikendatakse kuni 27-12-2012. - Παρατείνει την
προθεσμία του status quo μέχρι την 27-12-2012. - Extends the time limit of
the status quo until 27-12-2012. - Prolonge le délai de statu quo jusqu'au 2712-2012. - Proroga il termine dello status quo fino al 27-12-2012. - Pagarina
“status quo” laika periodu līdz 27-12-2012. - Pratęsia status quo laiko limitą iki
27-12-2012. - Meghosszabbítja a korábbi állapot határidejét 27-12-2012-ig. Jestendi t-terminu ta’ l-istatus quo sa 27-12-2012. - De status-quo-periode
wordt verlengd tot 27-12-2012. - Przedłużenie status quo do 27-12-2012. Prolonga o prazo do statu quo ate 27-12-2012. - Časový limit momentálneho
stavu sa predĺži až do 27-12-2012. - Podaljša rok nespremenjenega stanja do
27-12-2012. - Jatkaa status quo määräaikaa 27-12-2012 asti - Förlänger tiden
för status quo fram till: 27-12-2012 - Удължаване на крайния срок на
статуквото до 27-12-2012 - Prelungeşte termenul status quo-ului până la 2712-2012.
Die Kommission hat diese ausführliche Stellungnahme am 26-09-2012
empfangen.
The Commission received this detailed opinion on the 26-09-2012.
La Commission a reçu cet avis circonstancié le 26-09-2012.
********************
ОГРАНИЧЕН - OMEZENÝ PŘĺSTUP - BEGRÆNSET ZUGANGSBESCHRÄNKT - ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΗ ΧΡΗΣΗ - LIMITED - LIMITADO PIIRATUD - RAJOITETTU - LIMITÉ - KORLÁTOZOTT HOZZÁFÉRÉS RISERVATO - RIBOTO NAUDOJIMO DOKUMENTAS - IEROBEŽOTAS
PIEEJAMĪBAS DOKUMENTS - RISTRETT - RESTRITO - LIMITAT OBMEDZENÝ - OMEJENO - BEGRÄNSAT
Document handled in the framework of Directive 98/34/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for
the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations.
This document is only releasable to staff in the European Commission and the
Member States with an established need-to-know in the framework of
Directive 98/34/EC.
When bearing the marking 'LIMITED', this document shall not be releasable
for publication. When transmitting it via electronic means within the
Commission, SECEM (SECure EMail) should be used.
In case you are the holder of this document without having the established
need-to-know, as indicated above, inform the author, originator or sender
immediately and return it securely unread. Failure to do so shall be
considered a breach of security, which may give rise to disciplinary or legal
action.
(MSG: 201202512.EN)
1. MSG 116 IND 2012 0394 UK EN 27-12-2012 26-09-2012 COM 9.2(2) 2712-2012
2. France
3A. Délégué interministériel aux normes – SQUALPI – Bât. Sieyès -Teledoc
151 – 61, Bd Vincent Auriol - 75703 PARIS Cedex 13
[email protected]
tél : 01 44 97 24 55
3B. Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'agroalimentaire et de la forêt
Direction générale des politiques agricoles, agroalimentaires et des territoires
(DGPAAT)
Service des relations internationales
Bureau des politiques commerciales et extérieures communautaires
4. 2012/0394/UK - C00A
5. Article 9 (2), second point, of Directive 98/34/EC
6. The authorities of the United Kingdom have notified the Commission of a
Scottish Draft Decree on alcohol, setting the minimum price per unit of alcohol
at 50 pence. The Decree is pursuant to the non-notified Act passed by the
Scottish Parliament on 24 May 2012 which received Royal Assent on 29 June,
which imposes a minimum price per unit of alcohol. The Decree would come
into force in April of 2013.
The legislature's objective is to address a public health concern: it aims to
modify consumer behaviour by discouraging consumption of low-priced, highcontent bottles of alcohol in order to reduce binge drinking.
For the French authorities, the measure introduced by the Scottish parliament,
which could also be adopted by the English government, has an effect
equivalent to a quantitative restriction on imports. It is admittedly justified on
the grounds of public morality, public order, public safety and protection of the
health and lives of individuals, but, in accordance with Article 36 of the TFEU,
it shall not constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or restriction in
disguise.
Yet a change in the minimum price of alcoholic beverages poses the risk of a
major impact on sales, causing an imbalance in the market for low-priced
wine and spirits.
This draft seems to us to be incompatible with the Treaty on the Functioning
of the European Union for two main reasons:
The measure affects producers more so than consumers; effectively, a
minimum price closes the competitiveness gap, discourages efforts at market
entry and thus also creates a distortion of competition. Specifically, the
average price of a bottle of wine produced in the United Kingdom is higher
than the average price of imported wine. Therefore, the competitive
advantage of the latter will be particularly affected by this measure.
The measure can be considered disproportionate with respect to the intended
objectives, in that these objectives could also be attained by way of other
measures which are less restrictive on trade (such as a prevention campaign
or taxation).
Taking into account the minimum price set by the Decree, the minimum retail
price of a bottle of 12.5% wine would be 4.69 pounds sterling. The United
Kingdom is the number one export market for French wines (17%, valued at
1.2 billion Euros). Given the risk of distortion from the changes entailed by the
Scottish bill, the French wine and spirits sector could suffer serious losses.
Finally, if this regulation is adopted by Scotland, third countries who import
wine and spirits originating in the European Union may feel authorised to take
similar measures. The effect would be disastrous on the balance of European
trade.
Catherine Day
Secrétaire général
Commission européenne
Point de contact Directive 98/34
Fax: (32-2) 296 76 60
email: [email protected]