15.10.2018

Official Journal of the European Union

C 373/2

(Case C-423/18)

(2018/C 373/02)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Südzucker AG

Defendant: Hauptzollamt Karlsruhe

Questions referred

1.Should the first sentence of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 967/2006 (1) be interpreted to mean that the time-limit stated therein also applies to the amendment of a timely notification of the levy following an amended determination of the attributable quantity of surplus sugar after the passing of the time-limit based on a check under Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 952/2006? (2)

2.If the answer to Question 1 is in the affirmative, In that case, where a timely notification is amended on the basis of findings made during checks, do the conditions established by the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 10 January 2002 in British Sugar, C-101/99, EU:C:2002:7, for exceeding the notification time-limit stipulated in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2670/81, as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3559/91, (3) also apply for exceeding a notification time-limit under Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 967/2006?

3.If the first sentence of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 967/2006 does not apply to amending notifications based on checks (see Question 1) or if the conditions for exceeding the time-limit are fulfilled (see Question 2), should the time-limit by which the amendment to the levy must be notified be 1 May of the following year or should national law apply?

4.If the answer to Question 3 is that neither 1 May of the following year nor national law applies: Is it compatible with the general principles of EU law, which include the principles of proportionality, legal certainty and the protection of legitimate expectations, if, in a case such as the present, the levy for the 2007/2008 sugar marketing year was notified on 20 October 2010 or 27 October 2011 due to the time needed for checks and the time needed for preparation and evaluation of the inspection report? Is objection by the sugar producer to the determination of the surplus quantities relevant in this context?

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 967/2006 of 29 June 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 as regards sugar production in excess of the quota (OJ 2006 L 176, p. 22).

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 952/2006 of 29 June 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 as regards the management of the Community market in sugar and the quota system (OJ 2006 L 178, p. 39).

(3) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3559/91 of 6 December 1991 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2670/81 laying down detailed implementing rules in respect of sugar production in excess of the quota (OJ 1991 L 336, p. 26).