A company yesterday filed a judicial protest in the Gozo courts claiming it was being discriminated against by the Gozo Veterinary Services.

The protest was filed by Value Foods Co. Ltd against Frank Galea, the Director General for Veterinary Services, the permanent secretary in the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the permanent secretary in the Ministry for Gozo.

The company, which was authorised to process food products from animals slaughtered elsewhere, said Dr Galea was an official in the Veterinary Services Department whose role was to ensure that companies complied with regulations. His opinion was, therefore, very important as he had to decide whether a company could retain its licence and be authorised to slaughter livestock.

But the company claimed that Dr Galea was not treating it in the same manner he treated other commercial entities.

Value Foods claimed that Dr Galea was showing a hostile attitude towards it and that he had ignored the company's complaints that third parties were dumping dead poultry near its premises.

Dr Galea had also alleged that the sister of the company's owner had insulted him and that he had not been allowed to inspect one of the company's vehicles. But Value Foods denied the allegations.

The company said it did not resist inspections by Dr Galea for it maintained very high hygiene standards.

However, it claimed that Dr Galea was refusing to process its application to process other food products.

In conclusion, the company said the situation was intolerable and it could not be left to depend upon arbitrary and irrational behaviour on the part of Dr Galea.

Value Foods added that Dr Galea was bound to carry out his public functions with integrity, efficiency and without discrimination.

Lawyer Joseph Ellis signed the protest.