Bigg's gjorde for den nationale ret gældende, at de af Colim påberåbte nationale bestemmelser var uanvendelige, fordi de ikke som krævet efter direktiv 83/189 var blevet meddelt Kommissionen.
Bigg's contended before the national court that the national provisions relied on by Colim were inapplicable because they had not been notified to the Commission, as required by Directive 83/189.