"Cassis de Dijon" Case

The "Cassis de Dijon" case, decided by the European Court of Justice in 1979, involved a French fruit liqueur that was banned in Germany due to higher alcohol content than permitted by German law. The court ruled that such national regulations posed unjustified barriers to trade within the EU. It established the principle of mutual recognition, meaning that if a product is legally sold in one EU country, it should be allowed in others, promoting free movement of goods across member states. This ruling was significant in strengthening the internal market in Europe.