The Supreme Court of the Netherlands has asked the ECJ for a preliminary ruling concerning the interpretation of Directive 88/378/EEC on approximation of the laws concerning the safety of toys and Directive 91/338/EEC on the approximation of the laws relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations. The Dutch criminal proceedings were brought against Geharo BV for having stocked toys with a cadmium content greater than the maximum content permitted under Netherlands law. The ECJ has ruled that cadmium levels in toys are subject to restrictions in both directives.