Order of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 16 September 2015

Actions for failure to actDefinition of position within the meaning of Article 265, second paragraph, TFEU, before commencement of proceedingsInadmissibility (Art. 265, second para., TFEU) (see para. 27)

Actions for failure to actInstitution called upon to actCompulsoryAction brought before expiry of the time-limit for the institution’s replyInadmissibility (Art. 265, second para., TFEU) (see para. 28)

Actions for failure to actFailure to actConceptMeasure not considered satisfactory (Art. 265 TFEU) (see para. 33)

Actions for failure to actNatural or legal personsInterest in bringing proceedingsNeed for an actual and current interestAssessment at the time when the action was lodgedAction capable of securing a benefit for the applicantNoneInadmissibility (Art. 265 TFEU) (see paras 42-45)

Approximation of lawsNutritional and health claims concerning foodstuffsRegulation No 1924/2006Conditions for using the said claimsApplication of transitional measures for claims in the course of evaluation at the time of the entry into force of Regulation No 1924/2006 (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1924/2006, Arts 13(1), and 28(5) and (6)) (see paras 47-50)

EU lawPrinciplesLegal certaintyConcept (see para. 63)

Actions for annulmentActionable measuresConceptMeasures producing binding legal effectsCommission letter repeating the grounds for its decision not to order the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) to assess certain health claimsNot included (Art. 263 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1924/2006, Art. 13(3)) (see paras 71-73)

Approximation of lawsNutritional and health claims concerning foodstuffsRegulation No 1924/2006Health claims other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and healthProcedure for adopting the list of authorised claimsDiscretion of the Commission (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1924/2006, Art. 13(3)) (see para. 74)

Actions for failure to actDefinition of position within the meaning of Article 265, second paragraph, TFEU, before commencement of proceedingsConcept (Art. 265, second para., TFEU) (see para. 76)

EU lawPrinciplesRight to effective judicial protectionAction for annulment against measures not producing binding legal effects inadmissiblePossibility of parties challenging such measures by an action in non-contractual liability of the Union (Arts 263 TFEU, 268 TFEU and 340, second para., TFEU) (see paras 79, 80)

Re:

APPLICATION for a declaration that the Commission failed to act in that it unlawfully failed to instruct the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to assess health claims relating to botanical substances as a precondition for the adoption of the definitive list of permitted claims in accordance with Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (OJ 2006 L 404, p. 9) and, in the alternative, an application for annulment of the decision purportedly contained in the Commission’s letter of 19 June 2014 refusing to instruct the EFSA to assess those claims.

Operative part

The action is dismissed as inadmissible.

VSM Geneesmiddelen BV is ordered to pay the costs.