Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 18 March 2010 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Hof van beroep te Brussel (Belgium)) — SGS Belgium NV, Firme Derwa NV, Centraal Beheer Achmea NV v Belgisch Interventie- en Restitutiebureau, Firme Derwa NV, Centraal Beheer Achmea NV, SGS Belgium NV, Belgisch Interventie- en Restitutiebureau

(Case C-218/09) (1)

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Regulation (EEC) No 3665/87 - Export refunds - Article 5(3) - Conditions for granting - Exception - Force majeure - Products which perished in transit)

2010/C 134/13

Language of the case: Dutch

Referring court

Hof van beroep te Brussel

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicants: SGS Belgium NV, Firme Derwa NV, Centraal Beheer Achmea NV

Defendants: Belgisch Interventie- en Restitutiebureau, Firme Derwa NV, Centraal Beheer Achmea NV, SGS Belgium NV, Belgisch Interventie- en Restitutiebureau

Re:

Reference for a preliminary ruling — Hof van beroep te Brussel — Interpretation of Article 5(3) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3665/87 of 27 November 1987 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agricultural products (OJ 1987 L 351, p. 1) — Conditions for granting export refunds — Exception — Product which has perished in transit for reasons of force majeure.

Operative part of the judgment

Article 5(3) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3665/87 of 27 November 1987 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agricultural products, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1384/95 of 19 June 1995, must be interpreted as meaning that damage to a consignment of beef in the conditions described by the national court does not constitute force majeure within the meaning of that provision.

(1)  OJ C 220, 12.09.2009.