Author: SME Chamber

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.

The Employment Aid Programme –
for Gozo  Scheme is now open and will close on 6th
December 2013.

To apply for
this program, you can either apply on-line or else you can go to the ETC Office
in Victoria to pick up the form and ask for any information you require about
the scheme.  At the ETC Office you can also
find personnel who can help you in the filling of said application forms.

Tax Related Measures – Tax Deduction for Entrepreneurs who Offer Apprenticeship: Placements Entrepreneurs who are
willing to be part of the system will be given a tax deduction of €600 for
every apprenticeship placement (capped at 800 placements).

Tax deduction for Entrepreneurs who offer Work Placements: Government is offering an incentive
to entrepreneurs in the form of a tax deduction of €600 for every work
placement they accept (capped at 400 placements).

Providing Training and/or Employment to Employees who are between 45
and 65 Years of Age: Government will
offer a tax deduction of €5,800 as an incentive to employers to hire persons
within this age group who have been unemployed for the previous three years,
translating into a saving of €2,030 for each hired individual in this category.
The deduction applies for the first two years of employment. On the other hand,
companies will benefit from a tax deduction on their income or corporate tax of
50% of the training (up to a maximum of €400) for training undertaken by a
training provider officially accredited by the Malta Qualifications Council
upon the provision of a VAT receipt.

Reduction in Income Tax: The Government will be reducing the income tax rate for those income
earners who earn between €19,501 and €60,000 from the current 32% to 29%.

Tax Refund on Vehicle Registration: The Government has allocated the sum
of €2.5 million so that, as from next year, all persons who paid this tax will
receive a refund. The process will be carried out over a period of seven years,
and the ex gratia payment will be provided to those persons who registered a
vehicle for personal use between 1st May 2004, and 1st May 2008.

Abolishing the Tax on Auctions: The tax on auctions is going to be abolished.

Tax on Part Time Income: The preferential rate of 15% will increase from a present threshold of €7,000
to €10,000 for those working part-time, and from €7,000 to €12,000 for those
who work part-time as self-employed. For those businesses that employ two
part-time workers, the 15% will still be applicable.                           Reduction
in Income Tax for Unemployed Women who are over 40 years of age: From 2014,
principal breadwinners whose wives are over forty years of age and have been
inactive for more than 5 years but are going to start employment, earning a
tax-exempt wage, will benefit from reductions in income tax. The income
attributable to the wives will not be considered when using the joint tax
computation. Therefore A married couple may apply for the married tax rates
without taxing the wife's income, if:

This benefit is
applicable for a maximum period of 5 years.

Reduction in Registration tax on motor cycles and non-EU imported cars:
The registration tax on motors having
an engine equal to or greater than 250cc will be reduced. The registration tax
on non-EU imported cars is going to be reduced. The vehicles eligible must not
exceed the 150g/km CO2 emission level and must not be older than eight years.

Excise duty: Excise duty has
increased on a number of goods and commodities including they duty on bunkering
fuel (will increase by €0.35 per metric tonne), excise duty on cigarettes and
tobacco products (being increased by 6% and 9.3% respectively) and excise duty
on alcoholic beverages (being increased at rates of between 2.5% and 15%,
depending on the type of product). Excise duty on cement is also being
increased by €10 to €27 per 1000kg. Excise duty on heavy fuel oil, LPG and
methane is being increased by €2 per 1000 kg whereas that on leaded and
unleaded petrol, biodiesel, gasoil and kerosene is being increased by €20 per
1000 litres.

Value Added Tax: The budget announces a reform in the administration of VAT penalties and
interest as well as administrative proceedings with respect to tax in dispute
both for VAT and Income Tax, giving the necessary discretion to our Courts of
Law when applying imprisonment conditions to faulty taxpayers. Changes are
expected where individuals fail to pay VAT or Income Tax balances on time.

Energy Policy

Reduction on energy bills: As from March 2014, household energy bills will decline by 25% while
water bills will decline by 5%.

Solar Water Heaters, Double Glazing and Roof Insulation Schemes: An incentive scheme will be adopted
to help people upgrade their residence to one which is more energy efficient.
This measure emanates from the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan and is in
line with Directive 2012/27/EU. This measure will lead to a reduction in the
domestic energy use which subsequently reduces the amount of CO2 emissions.

Malta Oil and Gas Corporation: The Government will be establishing a Malta Oil and Gas Corporation.
This will be done so as to provide an infrastructural framework for the
development of an Oil and Gas industrial services industry in Malta. This
corporation will be the Government's leading agency in this regard, and will be
responsible for the implementation of the Government's needs and plans for the
purposes of oil and gas exploration.

Output Potential

Employment Aid Programme: This
tranche of Employment Aid Programme (EAP) will provide employment aid that
covers up to half of the wage s to Gozitan employers. The scope of the
initiative is to promote the recruitment of disadvantaged and/or disabled
persons.

Target Sectors

Gaming: It is
Government's intention to endeavour to enhance Malta's role as a hub for
digital gaming activities.

Managed Seed Capital Fund: An application for the European Social Funds (ESF) programming period
2014-2020 will be prepared to set up and co-manage a Managed Seed Capital Fund
to finance Knowledge-Intensive start-ups. The ESF funds requested will amount
to €11 million over a five year period. It is expected that €10 million will be
directly available as start-up grants and will help finance between fifty and
one hundred Knowledge-Intensive start-ups. The rest of the funds will be used
to finance the setting up of the Fund itself. This measure is expected to
encourage the creation of more Knowledge-Intensive start-ups in Malta.

MicroInvest and Jeremie Scheme: Micro enterprises and self-employed will be supported through a 45% tax
credit on eligible expenditure and 65% tax credit if based in Gozo. In
addition, the Jeremie scheme is going to be continued. These measures will
encourage micro enterprises and the self-employed to invest in their business,
increase their workforce, innovate, expand and implement compliance directives
and aiding in its continued growth by reducing their tax amount payable to the
Government. In turn, this would help increase economic activity.

International Individual Investor Programme: The Government is committed to attract foreign
direct investment for Malta to remain competitive in a global economy. The
Citizenship programme will put us on the same level with Canada, Portugal, Belgium
and Singapore in attracting high-quality investors.

Family Business Act: Family Businesses are the backbone of the Maltese economy. Around 70% of
local businesses are family businesses. Furthermore, in total, there are around
31,000 small family businesses that employ more than 38,400 people. However,
only 30% of businesses which complete the successful transition from the first
to the second generation survive for the long-term. Less than 10% of such
family-run businesses make it through to the third generation. To address this
challenge, the Government will enact the Family Business Act which aims to
ensure the continued existence of family businesses by facilitating the
transition from one generation to another.