German Court Permits Sunday Sale of Christmas Decorations in Garden Centers

The Federal Court of Justice ruled that Christmas items can be sold as part of the supplementary range in garden centers under North Rhine-Westphalia's Sunday.

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that garden centers in North Rhine-Westphalia can sell Christmas decorations on Sundays as part of their supplementary product range.
The decision clarified that items like artificial pine branches, cinnamon sticks, and glass ornaments qualify as complementary to the core offerings of plants and flowers.
The lawsuit was initiated by the Competition Central Office, which argued that selling these items on Sundays was unfair competition, but their claim was dismissed at all judicial levels.
The court emphasized that the supplementary range must be related to the main products and play a subordinate role in terms of volume and significance.
The ruling is specific to North Rhine-Westphalia but highlights the fragmented nature of Sunday trading laws across Germany, which vary by state.