Author: SME Chamber

There are more
than 186 000 organic farms across Europe, cultivating an area of 9.6 million
hectares, i.e. 5.4% of the total agricultural area in the European Union (EU),
the report "Facts and Figures on Organic Farming" issued today by the
European Commission points out.

The report gives an overview of organic
agriculture in Europe based on the data available and its evolution over recent
years. It shows in particular that organic holdings are overall bigger than
conventional farms in the EU and their managers are younger. Permanent pasture
represents the biggest share of the organic area (about 45%), followed by
cereals (around 15%) and permanent crops (about 13%). Besides poultry, which
registers the highest number of animal organic heads, the rest of organic
livestock is led by sheep (46%) and bovines (30%) at European level.

Full report:
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets-and-prices/more-reports/pdf/organic-2013_en.pdf

Il-MEUSAC,
flimkien mal-Ministeru għat-Trasport u Infrastruttura, se jorganizza sessjoni
ta' konsultazzjoni fuq Proposta għal Regolament li jistabbilixxi qafas fuq
l-aċċess għas-suq għas-servizzi portwarji u t-trasparenza finanzjarja
tal-portijiet. KUMM(2013) 296.

Din
il-konsultazzjoni ser tiffokka l-iktar fuq:

Il-bżonn li jiġu żviluppati konnessjonijiet taż-żoni interni li
huma identifikati sew bħala sfida importanti u dan diġà huwa indirizzat permezz
tal-politika tat-TEN-T.

Tliet kwistjonijiet li jistgħu jżommu lis-servizzi portwarji
milli jkunu organizzati bl-aħjar mod: (i) pressjoni kompetittiva dgħajfa li
huma suġġetti għaliha ħafna mis-servizzi portwarji minħabba r-restrizzjonijiet
fuq l-aċċess għas swieq; (ii) monopolji jew oligopolji li jistgħu jwasslu għal
abbużi tas-suq; u (iii) piżijiet amministrattivi żejda marbuta mal-użu ta' dawn
is-servizzi f'ċerti portijiet, minħabba nuqqas ta' koordinazzjoni fi ħdan
il-portijiet.

L-investimenti
meħtieġa biex il-kapaċitajiet portwarji jiġu adattati għall-ħtiġijiet li qed
jinbidlu huma possibbli biss f'qafas politiku u regolatorju stabbli li jnaqqas
l-inċertezzi ekonomiċi u li jiżgura kundizzjonijiet ekwi.

Din il-laqgħa
ta' konsultazzjoni ser issir nhar l-Erbgħa, 27 ta' Novembru 2013, bejn l-10.00
u nofsinhar, ġewwa Dar l-Ewropa, 254 Triq San Pawl, il-Belt Valletta.

Biex
tirreġistra, inti ġentilment mitlub tibgħat email fuq l-indirizz
elettroniku , sa mhux aktar tard minn nofsinhar
tat-Tlieta,
26 ta' Novembru.

Chemical
products are used every day at work, for example cleaning products, lubricants,
paints and glues. Labels on these products tell us useful information about:

the type of
chemicals the product contains;

what hazards are associated with the
product;

how to use the chemical safely.

Over the next
few years, new legislation, known as the CLP regulation (classification,
labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures), will change the way
chemical products are classified to identify hazards and how this information
is communicated on labels and safety data sheets (SDS).

The CLP
regulation implements the United Nations' Globally Harmonised System of
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in the EU. GHS is being adopted
worldwide to improve and harmonise worker and consumer safety and facilitate
global trade.

Some of the
differences you may see are:

classification criteria and
classification methods are different for some types of hazard, so some chemical
products may be classified more or less severely;

new hazard pictograms will replace
danger symbols on labels;

new wording in hazard (H) and
precautionary (P) statements will replace risk (R) and safety (S) phrases;

classifications for both the CLP and
the previous legislation on SDS, and label information moved from Section 15 to
Section 2 of the SDS.

You should look out for these changes, make sure you understand the new
information and comply with any new safety instructions.

As part of the
EU's efforts to deepen economic relations with countries in the dynamic ASEAN
region, Vice President Antonio Tajani, European Commissioner for Enterprise and
industry, has led a "Mission for growth" to Vietnam.

He was accompanied by 47
representatives from EU industry associations and companies, in particular
those operating in key areas of EU-Vietnam business: the tourism, agri-business
and manufactured goods sectors. This visit was part of a series of missions to
help European enterprises better profit from fast growing international
markets. Trade and investment between the EU and Vietnam has been steadily
growing over recent years, with EU companies considering the country as a
potential production base, a lucrative and growing market and one of the key
gateways to the wider and increasingly integrated ASEAN market. However, when
compared to Asian competitors, the share of European trade and investment is
slowly falling as European small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) face
difficulties in establishing a permanent foothold in Vietnam.

The main
objectives of this Mission for Growth to Vietnam were: to promote innovation
and sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and in Vietnam; to help EU
companies, and in particular SMEs, to operate in the ASEAN region; and to
promote EU industry in targeted sectors.

GRTU has been
made aware of important developments in relation to EU-Russia trade,
particularly as regards road customs clearances and operations. In the coming
weeks, importers and exporters of freight to Russia may be facing increasing
difficulties when dealing with the Russian customs authorities.

Up until
this point, customs operations for road transport vehicles have been covered by
the TIR convention, an international customs transit system which provides road
hauliers with reduced administrative burdens and guarantees through the use of
the internationally recognised TIR carnets. 
However, the Russian customs authorities are currently implementing
restrictive customs measures which are in breach with the TIR convention. These
measures would de facto mean the end of the TIR system in Russia, and it is
expected that, starting on 1 December 2013, all road transport operators
relying on TIR carnets will no longer be accepted in Russia. 

Even
though, the Supreme Arbitration Court of Russia has rendered a legally-binding
decision making these restrictions illegal, the Russian government does not
seem inclined nor willing to take action. European road hauliers will have to
adapt to an alternative system which is currently still unknown. This will
inevitably increase red-tape and legal uncertainty for European businesses
wishing to import or export freight to the country.

In
practice, these protectionist measures will push European road hauliers to stop
delivering to Russia, thus globally impacting trade flows between the EU and the
Russian Federation.  

EuroCommerce
raised its concerns to the European Commission (DG TRADE) during today's
conference on "Chemical Trade with Russia", co-organized with FECC – European
Association of Chemical Distributors. 

Kindly inform GRTU if you are affected in any way.

GRTU would like
to take the opportunity to thank its members for their participation during the
meetings held with the Authorities concerned regarding the L.N. 244.2013 –
Animal Welfare Act (CAP. 439), Protection of Animals offered in Pet shops
(Minimum Standards) Regulations, 2013. GRTU would also like to remind Pet Shops
owners that the said L.N. will come into force on April 2, 2014.

The GRTU
will be organizing a General Meeting in the coming days with the participation
of the Authorities concerned to discuss further the said L.N.  In the meantime inspectors will be visiting
pet shops as agreed during the said meetings. The aim is to guide pet shops to
help them be in line with the Law. Section 5 
of the said LN will also be discussed after various complaints GRTU
received from pet shop owners.

GRTU
would also like to inform its members that during a meeting held with Hon
Rodrick Galdes, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries & Animal
Rights,  pet shop owners contribution
towards  L.N. 244/13  has been discussed in detail.

Hon
Galdes has promised his support towards this sector and the GRTU  and 
said that together we will be working towards the betterment of this
sector.

Those
wishing further assistance are welcome to contact Carmen Borg on 21 230459 or
79 232884.

Access to
finance is still among the top concerns of the EU's small and medium sized
enterprises and younger and smaller firms are the most badly affected,
according to the "Access to Finance" survey released today by the
European Commission and European Central Bank.

About one third of the SMEs
surveyed did not manage to get the full financing they had planned for during
2013 and 15% of survey respondents saw access to finance as a significant
problem for their companies. Companies believed that bank financing conditions
worsened during 2013, with respect to interest rates, collateral and required
guarantees.

Full report can be found:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/finance/files/2013-safe-analytical-report_en.pdf

Green MT, the National Authorised
Packaging Waste Complaince Scheme, has recently organized its yearly Green
Council Awards. The event was held at a leading hotel in St Julians, where
guests were welcomed by Green Mt Directors.

The event was followed by a
keynote speech from the Minister for Sustainable Development, The Environment
and Climate Change, Mr Leo Brincat, who outlined that it was Government's
strategy to make sure that waste management operations that could be handled by
the private sector do not continue to be done by Wasteserv. Although this in
itself requires a change in mentality he explained that he had already written
to GRTU and other Constituted Bodies in this regard and Government was ready to
consider any direct tangible effort by the private sector in relation to
managing waste in Malta.

After the keynote speech,
the Minister and Mr Paul Abela, GRTU President and Director at Green MT,
presented the awards. The categories awarded were as follows:

The Local Council recovering most recyclables from Grey bag and
bring-in-sites per capita, Malta and Gozo. To this effect Malta and Gozo were
evaluated separately. In Malta the Local Council of Mellieha placed first in
this category with a per capita collection of 93 kg. Second placed was Ta`
Xbiex and third place came Mgarr. In Gozo the Local Council of Ghasri placed
first in this category with a per capita collection of 64 kg. Second placed
were Zebbug and third placed were Munxar.

The Local Council recovering most recyclables from Grey bag
recovery only per capita, Malta and Gozo. The Local Council of Ta' Xbiex placed
first in this category, whilst in Gozo this award went to the Local Council of
Nadur.

The Local Council with the best enviromental initiative. This
award went to none other then Marsascala Local Council. Marsascal Local Council
have replaced 66 street benches at the promenade with funds emanating from the
excess tonnage funds recuperated over three years by the Local Council. The
benches were installed between last year and this year and are manufactured
from recyclable materials and were sourced from Greece. The Mayor Mr Mario
Calleja received the award on behalf of the Local Council.

Following the presentations
by the Minister and Mr Paul Abela those present were entertained to a reception
at the same hotel.

Green MT can be contacted on
21496965/6 and currently effects its logistical operation from offices in
Birkirkara.

F'Laqgha
kordjali li l-GRTU kellha mall-Ministru Joe Mizzi ftit tal-gimghat ilu giet
diskussa fid-dettal l-problema ta' heavy vihicles u fejn wiehed jista jevita li
ma tinholoqx kongestjoni fit-toroq waqt l-peak hours.

Il-GRTU
taghti s-support shih sabiex tinstab l-ahjar soluzzjoni u li jkun hemm aktar
efficcjenza fit-toroq. Il-GRTU pero tinsab imhassba hafna l-ghaliex minghajr ma
saret l-ebda konsultazzjoni mall-partijiet kollha kkoncernati nfurmata li
ttiehdu decizzjonijiet f'dan ir-rigward fejn jistghu jolqtu hazin lil diversi
setturi li tirraprezenta l-GRTU fosthom; water bowsers, burdnara, trakkijiet li
jgorru materjal li ghandu x'jaqsam max-xoghol ta' kostruzzjoni,
trakkijiet/vannijiet li jiddistribbwixxu oggetti diversi u  ohrajn.

Fil-laqgha
gie miftiehem li kellu jigi mfassal pjan ghat-toroq mis-Chief Executive  Officer (CEO), Transport Malta li
jissugerixxi fejn heavy vehicles ma jghaddux jew jghaddu u f'liema hinijiet u
anke jsir suggeriment ta' toroq alternattivi ta' min fejn ser jghaddu dawn
il-vetturi sabiex tittaffa l-problema tat-traffiku. L-GRTU wara tamalgama
l-proposti taghha sabiex jintlahaq ftehim kollettiv ghal benficcju
tal-partijiet kollha kkoncernati.

l-GRTU
ma taccettax li f'certu hinijiet dawn l-vetturi jieqfu mill-operat taghhom. Din
id-decizjoni jekk kemm il-darba tittiehed tista tpoggi fil-perikolu l-impjieg
ta' hafna nies li jirraprezentaw diversi setturi.

Il-GRTU
pproponiet li jsiru laqghat mall-Kunsilli Lokali fejn dawn jistghu jigwidaw
f'alternattivi ohra. Il-GRTU talbet l-assistenza tad-Director of Traffic fejn
bi qbil mall-Ministru kellhom jsiru laqghat maghha qabel ma jittiehdu
decizjonijiet li jistghu jkunu ta' detriment ghal min ser jirciviehom.

L-GRTU
titlob li qabel jsiru dawn l-laqghat ma tittiehed l-ebda decizjoni f'dan
ir-rigward.