Vogelbescherming Nederland a.o. v. Minister van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit Country/Territory Netherlands Type of court National - higher court Date Mar 22, 2006 Source UNEP, InforMEA Court name European Court of Justice Seat of court Luxembourg Judge Veltman, J.Tentij, M.van Oost, J.C.de GrootKuijpers, E.M.B. Reference number 200506050/1 Language Dutch Subject Wild species & ecosystems, Environment gen. Keyword Traceability/product tracing Protected plant species Protected animal species Protected fish species Food quality control/food safety Agricultural development Protected area Protection of species Agriculture and environment Agricultural commodities Agricultural land Abstract The Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Quality should not have issued a licence to companies that wanted to introduce Irish mussels and oysters in the Oosterschelde, a protected nature area. It was not demonstrated that this would not have significant effects on a protected nature area. The Minister should have made the plans/projects subject to appropriate assessments of their implications for the site in view of the sites conservation objectives, in line with the explanations given to the Habitats directive in ECJ Case C-127/02. Full text case.aspx