Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Austria) lodged on 27 November 2023 — Bundesminister für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz

(Case C-717/23, Bundesminister für Gesundheit)

(C/2024/1840)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Verwaltungsgerichtshof

Parties to the main proceedings

Appellant on a point of law: Bundesminister für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz

Respondent authority: Bezirkshauptmannschaft Grieskirchen

Interested party: M

Question referred

Should Article 23(2) in conjunction with point 40 of Article 2 and Article 13(1)(c) of Directive 2014/40/EU (1) be interpreted as meaning that the prohibition on placing a tobacco product on the market in a unit packet having elements or features relating to taste also covers the supplying of such a tobacco product by a wholesaler to a retail outlet or only covers the sale of such a tobacco product by a retail outlet to a consumer?

(1)  Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products and repealing Directive 2001/37/EC (OJ 2014 L 127, p. 1).