140The Court observes that when the Commission lays down an indicative rule of conduct designed to produce external effects, it may not depart from that rule in an individual case without giving reasons that are compatible with the principle of equal treatment (see, to that effect and by analogy, Case C-397/03 PArcher Daniels Midland and Archer Daniels Midland Ingredients v Commission [2006] ECR I-4429, paragraph 91).