3 C.L.R. 1988 December29 ' [A.LOEOU.P.] INTHEMATTEROFARTICLE146OFTHECONSTITUTION IACOVOSPHOTIADESFOODSTUFFSUPPLIERSLTD., Applicants. v. THEREPUBLICOFCYPRUS,THROUGH THEMINISTEROFCOMMERCEANDINDUSTRY; Respondents. (CaseNo.341187). Importlicence—The Imports(Regulation) Law (Law49162), section 3— Discretionthereunderhastobeexercisedproperly—Inthiscaseapplicant failedtoestablishthatitwasnotexercisedinapropermanner. 5 10 ConstitutionalLaw—Equality—Constitution,Art.28—Refusaltograntlicence for importofvegetableoilintinsof20litreseach,ongroundthatsuchlicencesareonlygrantedfor tinsupto5litreseach—Inthecircumstancesthe distinctionbetweentinsofupto5 litresandtinsofmore than5litreswas reasonable—Otherwiselocalindustrywouldhavebeenaffectedbytheinfluxofsuchlargesizetins,whichcouldnavebeensoldatmorecompetitive prices. Thefactsofthiscaseappearsufficiently intheJudgmentoftheCourt Recoursedismissed Noorderastocosts. Casesreferredto: 11 Micrommatisv.TheRepublic, 2R.S.C.C. 125. 2647 . PhotiadesFoodstuffs v.Republic
(1988)Recourse. Recourseagainsttherefusal oftherespondentstoissuetoapplicantanimportlicenceof 1200twentylitretinsofvegetableoil (palmoil). G.Triantafyllides,fortheapplicants. 5 M.Tsiappa(Mrs.),for therespondents. Cur. adv. vult. A.LOIZOU P.read thefollowingjudgmenL Bythepresent recourse theapplicantCompanyseeksadeclarationoftheCourt thatthedecisionof therespondent datedthe 16thApril 1987,to ™ reject itsapplication datedthe7thApril 1987,for animportlicenceof1200twentylitretinsofvegetableoil,(palmoil),isnull andvoid. TheapplicantCompanywhichisaCompanyof alimitedliabilityisengaged,interalia,intheimportoffoodstuffs. Itsapplication for a licence to import the aforesaid goods wasnotapprovedassuchlicenceswereonlygrantedinrespectofone,two three,four andfivelitretins,forthepurposeoftheprotectionof thelocalindustry. " ItwascontendedonbehalfoftheapplicantCompanythatthe ^ subjudicedecisioniscontrarytoArticle28oftheConstitutionin that itresultsinunequaltreatment between importsintinsupto five litresandtwentlylitretinswhichcontainoneandthesame product Thesubjudicedecisionwasthusreachedinabuseand/ or excessofpoweras suchdifferentiation isarbitrary andcon- 25 trarytolaw. Section3oftheImports(Regulation)Law1962,(LawNo.49 of 1962)asamended bySection2ofLawNo.7of 1967,gives therespondentadiscretiontoregulateandrestricttheimportation ofgoods.Itprovidesasfollows: 2648 30 3 C.L.R. 5 Photiades Foodstuffs v. Republic A. Loizou P. "Whenever itbecomesnecessary, inthepublicinterest, to restrict andregulate theimportationof goods for the encour agement of local production and manufacture,theimprove mentof thebalanceoftrade, compliancewithinternationalobligations orthedevelopmentof theeconomyof the Republic, theMinistermay, byOrderpublishedintheofficial Gazetteof theRepublic, restrictandregulatetheimportationof thegoods specified intheOrder." Suchdiscretiongivenby theLaw tograntornotimportlicen1Q ceshastobeexercised properly andinthisinstanceIfind thatit was so,theapplicantCompanyhaving failed tosatisfy theCourt that suchdecision was notaimedattheabove purpose,but was arbitrarily reachedby therespondent.IndeedIfind from the files of therespondentthattherestriction of importsupto tinsoffive 15 litreswasthoughtnecessary for theprotectionof thelocalindus trywhichwouldotherwise beadverselyaffected asaresultofthe influx of suchlargesizedtinsof thecommodityintothemarket, which would have been sold at alower andmore competitive pricethanthesmallerones. 20 25 30 I furtherfindthatthereisnoviolationof Article28oftheCon stitutionbecausesuchArticle only guards against arbitrary diffe rentiationsanddoes notexclude reasonable distinctionswhich haveίοbemadeinviewof theintrinsicnatureof things. (SeeMicrommatis v. TheRepublic, 2 R.S.C.C. 125, at 131). Infact it would have amountedtodiscrimination as against theother im porters hadtherespondentnotfollowed auniform practice and grantedlicences tosomeofthemfor theimportofvegetableoils intinsof 20litresandtoothersintinsofnotmorethanfivelitres. Inconclusion,Ifindthatthesubjudicedecision wasreasonably opentotherespondentMinisterwhoexercised hisdiscretion properlyandinaccordancewiththeLaw. 2649 A.LoizouP. Photiades Foodstuffs v.Republic
(1988)Foralltheabovereasonsthisrecoursefailsandisherebydismissed, but in the circumstances there will be no order as to costs. Recoursedismissed. Noorderastocosts. $ 2650 *^