Which condition accompanies the 'essential interests' exception in Cassis de Dijon (1979) for restricting movement of goods?

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Multiple Choice

Which condition accompanies the 'essential interests' exception in Cassis de Dijon (1979) for restricting movement of goods?

In Cassis de Dijon, when a member state justifies restricting the movement of goods on essential interests, that justification must pass a proportionality test. The essential-interests basis allows limits on free movement, but only to the extent that the measure is appropriate and necessary to achieve the legitimate aim, and uses the least restrictive means available. This keeps the internal market functioning while permitting protections like public health, consumer protection, or environmental concerns, but it does not permit sweeping or overly burdensome restrictions. So the key idea is that essential-interests restrictions are governed by proportionality: the measure must be suitable, necessary, and not more restrictive than needed. It’s not a blanket override of market rules, nor a free pass for national standards to automatically prevail.

In Cassis de Dijon, when a member state justifies restricting the movement of goods on essential interests, that justification must pass a proportionality test. The essential-interests basis allows limits on free movement, but only to the extent that the measure is appropriate and necessary to achieve the legitimate aim, and uses the least restrictive means available. This keeps the internal market functioning while permitting protections like public health, consumer protection, or environmental concerns, but it does not permit sweeping or overly burdensome restrictions.

So the key idea is that essential-interests restrictions are governed by proportionality: the measure must be suitable, necessary, and not more restrictive than needed. It’s not a blanket override of market rules, nor a free pass for national standards to automatically prevail.

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