Germany is being taken to court by the
European Commission for treating garlic supplements as
medicines.
In a Commission statement, vice-president Günter Verheugen,
responsible for Enterprise, Industry and the Free Movement of
Goods, said the case was a ‘clear cut’ example of national
over regulation creating unnecessary burdens for business and
hampering economic growth in the EU.
Garlic preparations, such as capsules containing pure dried
garlic powder, are marketed as foodstuffs in another member
state. German classification of the supplements as medicines
therefore constitutes a disproportionate and unnecessary
obstacle to the free movement of goods under EU law, said the
Commission.
The case also points to recent legislation that was expected
to clear up some of the confusion over the borderline between
food supplements and medicinal products.
