The legal case being brought by French authorities against tour operator Le Ski have been postponed for a second time.
The case, one of three wholly separate legal actions being brought on different grounds at present by French authorities against British companies and individuals in the ski travel business, began in its present form at the end of winter 2012-13 when Le Ski staff who were showing the company's clients around the slopes were stopped and questioned.
The French case is essentially that to do so the British ski hosts need to be fully qualified teachers under the French qualifications standard, the British case that they are not teachers or teaching, just providing a helpful orientation tour free of charge, so do not.
The case meant only limited ski hosting, or 'social skiing' took place last season where agreements with qualified teachers could be reached. British tour operators are supporting Le Ski, other businesses involved include Alpine Elements, Crystal Ski Holidays, Esprit Ski, Inghams, Mark Warner, Neilson, Ski Olympic, Ski Total, Skiworld, Thomson Ski.
The case was due to be heard yesterday having been referred from November 2013 at the joint request of the Ecole du Ski Français (ESF) and Le Ski as both parties concurred that the European legal issues raised by the case are complex and required careful examination.
Le Ski submitted a detailed written defence which shows, in particular, that they believe that the French regulations banning ski hosting are clearly discriminatory, as all French civil servants and teachers established in France are exempt from any qualification requirement.
The applicable section of French law is therefore unjustifiable under EU law, Le Ski claim.
"The ESF have requested more time to consider the legal arguments and extensive European Court case-law on which our defence is based. Given the serious implications of the outcome of this case, and in the interest of a thorough legal debate, we have agreed to a deferral." said Le Ski's boss, Nick Morgan.
The case is now due to return to court on July 2nd.