''Srl CILFIT v Ministry of Health'' (1982)
is an
EU law
European Union law is a system of Supranational union, supranational Law, laws operating within the 27 member states of the European Union (EU). It has grown over time since the 1952 founding of the European Coal and Steel Community, to promote ...
case, concerning
preliminary references to the
Court of Justice of the European Union
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ( or "''CJUE''"; Latin: Curia) is the Judiciary, judicial branch of the European Union (EU). Seated in the Kirchberg, Luxembourg, Kirchberg quarter of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, this EU ins ...
.
Facts
CILFIT, a wool importer, contested the amount it had paid by way of fixed health inspection levy. Appeals by CILFIT were denied, and the case reached the
Court of Cassation
A court of cassation is a high-instance court that exists in some judicial systems. Courts of cassation do not re-examine the facts of a case; they only interpret the relevant law. In this, they are appellate courts of the highest instance. In ...
. In the Court of Cassation, the Ministry of Health argued that the factual circumstances of the case were so obvious as to rule out any other possible interpretation, so there would not be a need for a preliminary ruling. The Court of Cassation then referred the case to
Court of Justice.
Judgment
The Court of Justice held that a national court of last instance is under no obligation to refer when the issue is acte clair or when the ECJ has already ruled on the question of interpretation referred by the national court. It said there is no need to refer if there is already a judgment, and continued.
Significance
CILFIT case is famous for two things: reaffirming the principle that EU law must be interpreted in its context and with the goals of EU Law in mind, and establishing criteria when a preliminary ruling from EU court does not need to be requested.
See also
*
European Union law
European Union law is a system of Supranational union, supranational Law, laws operating within the 27 member states of the European Union (EU). It has grown over time since the 1952 founding of the European Coal and Steel Community, to promote ...
Notes
External links
{{Italic title
Court of Justice of the European Union case law
1982 in case law