Belflora Pty Ltd v Vinflora Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 178

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Belflora Pty Ltd v Vinflora Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 178 Hearing dates: 2 June 2021 Decision date: 19 August 2021 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Brereton JA at [38]; Emmett AJA at [61] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) Direct the parties within seven days to make submissions as to the appropriate order of the costs of the appeal. Catchwords: COMMERCE – restraint of trade – validity and reasonableness – legitimate interests – where restraint imposed a blanket protection from importation of goods from a subcontinent – whether blanket protection directed to preserve or maintain a personal or corporate relationship with a supplier – where restraint did not relate to any particular supplier – Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW), s 4 COMMERCE – restraint of trade – validity and reasonableness – public policy – where restraint imposed a blanket protection from importation of goods from a subcontinent – whether restraint was against the public interest – where restraint prohibited respondents from competing in the market for the supply and sale of goods from a subcontinent – Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW), s 4 Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Amoco Australia Pty Ltd v Rocca Bros Motor Engineering Co Pty Ltd (1973) 133 CLR 288; [1973] HCA 40 Attwood v Lamont [1920] 3 KB 571 Belflora Pty Ltd v Vinflora Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1229 Birtley and District Co-op Society Ltd v Windy Nook and District Co-op Society Ltd (No 2) [1960] 2 QB 1; [1959] 1 All ER 623 Box v The Commissioner of Taxation (1952) 86 CLR 387; [1952] HCA 61 Butt v Long (1953) 88 CLR 476; [1953] HCA 76 Cactus Imaging Pty Ltd v Peters (2006) 71 NSWLR 9; [2006] NSWSC 717 Creamoata Ltd v Rice Equalization Association Ltd (1953) 89 CLR 286; [1953] HCA 40 English Hop Growers Ltd v Dering [1928] 2 KB 174; All ER Rep 396 Esso Petroleum Co Ltd v Harper's Garage (Stourport) Ltd [1968] AC 269 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Murry (1998) 193 CLR 605; [1998] HCA 42 Geraghty v Minter (1979) 142 CLR 177; [1979] HCA 42 Herbert Morris Ltd v Saxelby [1915] 2 Ch 57 Herbert Morris Ltd v Saxelby [1916] 1 AC 688 Heron v Port Huon Fruitgrowers' Co-op Association Ltd (1922) 30 CLR 315; [1922] HCA 20 Isaac v Dargan Financial Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 343; [2018] NSWCA 163 Koops Martin Financial Services Pty Ltd v Reeves [2006] NSWSC 449 Lindner v Murdock's Garage (1950) 83 CLR 628; [1950] HCA 48 Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd (2002) 210 CLR 181; [2001] HCA 70 Mason v Provident Clothing & Supply Co Ltd [1913] AC 724 McEllistrim v Ballymacelligott Co-op Agricultural and Dairy Society Ltd [1919] AC 548 Muller & Co's Margarine Ltd v Inland Revenue Commissioners (1901) AC 217 Nordenfelt v The Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Co Ltd [1894] AC 535 North Western Salt Co Ltd v Electrolytic Alkali Co [1914] AC 461 Orton v Melman [1981] 1 NSWLR 583 Peters (WA) Ltd v Petersville Ltd (2001) 205 CLR 126; [2001] HCA 45 Tank Lining Corporation v Dunlop Industrial Ltd (1982) 140 DLR (3d) 659 Trego v Hunt [1896] AC 7 Tullett Prebon (Australia) Pty Ltd v Purcell (2008) 175 IR 414; [2008] NSWSC 852 Vandervell Products Ltd v McLeod [1957] RPC 185 Victorian Onion and Potato Growers' Association Ltd v Finnigan [1922] VLR 384 Woolworths Ltd v Olson [2004] NSWCA 372 Wright v Gasweld Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 317 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, The Restraint of Trade Doctrine (2nd ed, 1998, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Belflora Pty Ltd (Appellant) Vinflora Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Vamsi Nagendra Babu Uppalapti (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Coles QC with D Allen (Appellant) A Moses QC with J Simpkins (Respondents)