Author: SME Chamber

Mr Lawrence Zammit will be appointed as Chairman of Malta Enterprise and Malta Industrial Parks Limited, while Dr Sue Vella will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Both appointments will take effect as from 12 May 2012.

Mr Zammit is a founding partner of MISCO, the marketing research and HR consulting firm with operations in Malta and Cyprus. He has held a number of public appointments, including past chairman of the Malta Development Corporation. He has also been chairman of the Employment and Training Corporation, Malta international Airport and Air Malta. He was also actively involved in the setting up of Malta  Enterprise.

Dr Sue Vella joined Malta Enterprise as Chief Operations Officer in March 2010.   Prior to joining Malta Enterprise, Dr. Vella was Chief Executive Officer at the Employment and Training Corporation, while also serving as Vice President of the Employment Committee in Brussels and Chair of its technical group.  She has worked in public sector consultancy and in various policy fields, also serving on a number of public sector boards and committees including vocational education, housing, social welfare and pension reform. 

Mr Zammit's and Dr Vella's experience in working with different industrial sectors will ensure that Malta Enterprise continues to build on the positive results achieved over the past years in terms of attracting foreign direct investment to Malta and in supporting the continuous development and growth of Maltese industry and enterprise.

Directive 2000/25/EC is amended by Directive 2011/72/EU. Directive 2000/25/EC regulates exhaust emissions from engines installed in agricultural and forestry tractors. The emission limits applicable in 2010 for type approval of the majority of compression ignition engines, referred to as Stage III A, were to be replaced by the more stringent Stage III B limits, entering into force progressively as from 1 January 2011 with regard to the placing on the market, and from 1 January 2010 as regards the type-approval for those engines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage IV, providing for emission limits more stringent than Stage III B, will enter into force progressively as of 1 January 2013 as regards the type-approval for those engines and as of 1 January 2014 with regard to the placing on the market.

The transition to Stage III B involves a step change in technology requiring significant implementation costs for re-designing the engines and for developing advanced technical solutions. However, the current global financial and economic crisis or any economic downturn should not lead to a lowering of environmental standards. This revision of Directive 2000/25/EC should therefore be considered to be exceptional. Furthermore, investments in environmentally friendly technologies are important for the promotion of future growth, jobs and health security.

Directive 2000/25/EC provides for a flexibility scheme to allow tractor manufacturers to purchase, during a given stage, a limited number of engines that do not comply with emission limits applicable during that stage, but which are approved in accordance with the requirements of the stage immediately preceding the applicable one.

Since 2005, Directive 2000/25/EC has provided for the evaluation of the possible need for additional flexibilities in relation to Stages III B and IV emission limits. In order to provide temporary relief to the industry when moving to the next stage, it is necessary to adapt the conditions for applying the flexibility scheme.

During Stage III B, the number of tractors that are placed on the market and that enter into service should, in each engine category, not exceed 40 % of the number of tractors placed on the market by the tractor manufacturer in that engine category. The alternative option of allowing a fixed number of tractors to be placed on the market and to enter into service under the flexibility scheme should be adapted accordingly.

Manufacturers of tractors falling within the scope of this Directive should benefit from European financial support programmes or any relevant support programmes provided by Member States. Those support programmes may favour projects employing the best available technologies with the highest emission standards.

Directive 2000/25/EC is amended by Directive 2011/87/EU. Directive 2000/25/EC regulates exhaust emissions from engines installed in agricultural and forestry tractors with a view to further safeguarding human health and the environment. Directive 2000/25/EC provided that the emission limits applicable in 2010 for type-approval of the majority of compression ignition engines, referred to as Stage III A, were to be replaced by the more stringent Stage III B limits, entering into force progressively as from 1 January 2010 as regards the type-approval, and from 1 January 2011 with regard to the placing on the market, for those engines. Stage IV, providing for emission limits more stringent than Stage III B, will enter into force progressively as from 1 January 2013 as regards the type-approval for those engines and from 1 January 2014 with regard to the placing on the market.

Article 2(b) of Directive 2004/26/EC which amends Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non- road mobile machinery, provides that the Commission is to consider the available technology, including the cost/benefits, with a view to confirming Stage III B and IV limit values and evaluating the possible need for additional flexibilities, exemptions or later introduction dates for certain types of equipment or engines and taking into account engines installed in non-road mobile machinery used in seasonal applications. Moreover, Article 4(8) of Directive 2000/25/EC provides for a review clause in order to take into account the specificities of tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2.

Directive 97/68/EC was the subject of several technical studies. As a result of those technical studies carried out in 2007, 2009 and 2010 and confirmed by the impact assessment carried out by the Commission, it was established that it is not technically feasible for tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 to meet the requirements of Stages III B and IV by the dates set out in that Directive.

In order to prevent Union legislation from prescribing technical requirements which cannot be met yet and in order to prevent a situation in which tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 can no longer be type- approved and placed on the market or put into service, it is necessary to provide for a transitional period of 3 years, during which tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 may still be type-approved and placed on the market or put into service.

You are kindly being requested to provide your feedback to the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority by e-mail:

The European Union's Eco-Innovation funding call is addressed to organisations that have developed an environmental product, service, management practice or process which has a proven track record, yet is not fully marketed due to residual risks. The initiative is intended to overcome those barriers to further market penetration and turn these products and processes into Europe's future eco-innovation successes. Applications from SMEs are particularly encouraged. Around €35 million will be available to fund new projects this year. The Commission will fund up to 50% of the project's eligible costs.

Tuesday 15th May 2012 – 13:00 – 16:00 hrs
Malta Enterprise, Gwardamangia Hill, Pieta (Conference Hall)

Sectors: Recycling materials; Sustainable building products; Food and drink sector; Greens business; and water technologies

Deadline for submission of applications is expected to be in September.

Due to limited seating capacity booking is required by latest 14th May. Booking is to be done by clicking on this link:

http://www.cipmalta.com/events.aspx?eventid=11

EU consumers want to be sure that the products – whether produced in the EU or imported from third-countries – are safe. The good news is that thanks to the increasing effectiveness of the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products ("RAPEX") dangerous products are detected earlier and more effectively and are more promptly removed from the EU market. This process involves a chain of actions including upstream efforts to design out risks at source, better risk assessment and close co-operation between EU authorities, notably customs, to identify risks at the points of entry.

John Dalli, Commissioner in charge of Health and Consumer Policy, said: "The fact that fewer dangerous items enter the EU market is good news for consumers. But we must remain committed so that we can tackle the challenges of the global supply chain and address any new product safety issues as they emerge. That is why building the system of 'Seamless Surveillance' by strengthening co-operation here in the EU and enhancing co-operation with international partners remains a key priority".

RAPEX : a rapid alert system to keep EU consumers safe

RAPEX has matured significantly since 2004 (when the General Product Safety Directive was transposed into national law). Member States have spent up to 100 million € and employed up to 6000 inspectors to work on product safety enforcement. The 2011 report highlights the achievements:

• earlier detection
• better market surveillance and product safety enforcement by national authorities, including through specific projects;
• better risk assessment by authorities;
• more focus on quality and usefulness of notifications;
• growing co-operation with customs authorities;
• continued network-building and training coordinated by the European Commission.

RAPEX 2011 Report: what about the countries of origin:

Although China remains – with more than half of the RAPEX notifications – the number one country for the number of notifications on products, there has been a decrease from 58% in 2010 to 54% in 2011.

19% (293 notifications) were of European origin. 15% were from other countries. 8% were of unknown origin (compared to 23% in 2004 – decreasing steadily with better identification).

Dangerous products of European origin accounted for 293 notifications (19%), including 44 products of French origin (3%), 43 products of German origin (3%) and 32 products of Italian origin (2%).

Notifying countries – all Member States involved:

All Member States participated in the RAPEX system by detecting and notifying new dangerous products and ensuring appropriate follow-up actions. The most active countries were Spain (189 notifications), Bulgaria (162 notifications), Hungary (155 notifications), Germany (130 notifications), and the United Kingdom (105 notifications). Notifications sent by these countries represent 47% of all notifications on products posing a serious risk sent via the system.

Clothing and textiles, toys and motor vehicles are on the top of the list.

Clothing and textiles were the most frequently notified products (423 notifications concerned suffocation and irritation risk), followed by toys (324 notifications mainly for choking risk), motor vehicles (171 notifications for risk of injury), electrical appliances (153 notifications for risk of electric shock) and cosmetics (104 notifications for chemical risk), which together account for 74% of all notifications on products posing a serious risk in 2011.

What next:

• Build the system of 'Seamless Surveillance';
• Enhance the co-operation with third countries, in particular, bilaterally with China and trilaterally with the US and China (the next trilateral meeting is scheduled for June 2012), and make progress on the co-operation with the US, Canada and Australia on an important work on pooling recall information under the auspices of OECD;
• Finalise proposals for a comprehensive legislative package on product safety and market surveillance;
• Promote greater awareness among businesses of their obligations.

 

The Consumer Affair Council will be meeting on the 16th of May 2012. For this reason we are kindly asking you to bring forward any issues which you wish to be discussed during the said Council. At the moment this Council is drawing out a list of issues which it will be discussing throughout this year. The scope of this council is to advise the Minister regarding measures to be taken for the protection of the Consumer.

Mr Mario Cutajar our representative on the Council will be keeping the GRTU informed of any outcome affecting our members and will be also consulting the GRTU for guidance on issues where the need arises.

I await for your feedback as Mr Cutajar will be representing GRTU's recommendations during the next meeting which is going to be held on the 16th of May 2012.

Kindly forward your suggestions by not later than the 15th of May 2012 on email;

Join the Malta 2012 FP7 ICT Brokerage Event in Malta, to network with research organisations from across Europe. It is an opportunity to learn more about ICT FP7 calls, projects currently under development and opportunities for you to participate.

Pen the date…

The Brokerage Event – organized by the Malta Council of Science and Technology in conjunction with the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport – will be held on the 28th of June 2011 at Villa Bighi, Malta.

The aim of the event is to create potential synergies between participants interested in submitting topics under Pervasive and Trusted Network and Service Infrastructures and Technologies for Digital content and Languages, under last calls of FP7 ICT.

Sending your interest in attending to  . Registration closes on 4^th June 2012.

 

Why did you become an entrepreneur? It has been our family business for over 40 years. How have you come to choose your line of business? It was natural for me to continue in the family business and the fact that there is a constant increase in motor vehicles we opted to expand and invested in a petrol station

Where did you go on your last holiday?

Liverpool – To see a football match and it was a present to my son for his Confirmation.

What is your earliest memory?

When I went for my first holiday in Rome.

If you could chose to be someone famous who would you be and why?

Steven Gerrard – a great footballer and does his utmost for the Liverpool club

From 1 July 2012, the European Union's mobile roaming regulation will be extended to include price caps for data downloads which will mean significant savings for those using maps, email and social networks when travelling. For a typical businessperson travelling in the EU this will mean savings of over €1000 per year. A family taking an annual holiday in another EU country can expect to save at least €200. (Full details of these data roaming case studies are in Annex II).

Overall, the improved EU roaming regulation – taking into account calls, SMS and data – will deliver consumers savings of 75% across a range of mobile roaming services, compared to 2007 prices. This year Europeans will spend around €5 billion on roaming services, a saving of around €15 billion compared to what the same services would have cost under 2007 prices.

Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said: "By putting price caps on data we have created a roaming market for the smart phone generation. More than that, we have ended the rip-offs familiar to anyone who has used a mobile phone while travelling abroad. I am pleased that year after year the European Union is putting money back in the pockets of citizens."

"From 2014 we are also delivering a permanent solution to the roaming issue, something better than any price cap. We are bringing full competition to this market by making it easy to choose a separate roaming provider. If you can find a better offer compared to your standard contract you'll be able to do it in a few simple swipes, just like when you choose a wifi network."

From summer 2012: data downloads get much cheaper

Since 2007 the EU has placed price caps on calling and texting. Now data is being brought under the same system. The new prices caps, which will enter into force on 1 July 2012, are:

• 29 cents per minute to make a call, plus VAT
• 8 cents per minute to receive a call, plus VAT
• 9 cents to send a text message, plus VAT
• 70 cents per Megabyte (MB) to download data or browse the Internet whilst travelling abroad (charged per Kilobyte used), plus VAT.

Downloading data previously cost more than € 4 per Megabyte from many operators in July 2009 – now those prices will be cut by around six times. By 2014, as prices are cut further, the maximum cost of downloading data will be just 20 cents per Megabyte, plus VAT, a saving of 90% on many current rates.

Operators are free to offer cheaper rates. Price caps are a maximum level, acting as a safeguard, and competition should drive them lower.

Bill shock: information when travelling outside the EU

To help avoid "bill shock" from 1st July 2012, people travelling outside the EU will get a warning text message, email or pop-up window when they are nearing €50 of data downloads, or their pre-agreed level.

Consumers will then have to confirm they are happy to go over this level in order to continue their data roaming.

This extends the alert system currently in place within the EU.

From 2014: competition will deliver cheaper roaming

From 1 July 2014, customers will have the option to shop around for a separate mobile roaming provider – either through a contract or by choosing a provider at their destination, like they would choose a Wi-Fi network. All with the same number.

Mobile network operators in visited countries will have an incentive to offer such services at rates close to national prices, on the basis of their own low national network costs. As people's mobile data use intensifies, and they want to use their devices anywhere, any time, many travelers are likely to find this Wi-Fi – like option very attractive. These forces will reinforce each other to create lower prices and better network coverage.

Price caps will stay in place until 30 June 2017 as an extra safety net for consumers.

Workshops on Local Action Plan on Renewable Energy – Local residents, local administrators, private sector representatives and technical operators are encouraged to attend. Interested participants are requested to register for this seminar by sending an email on or by phone on 22955116/22955184. For more information view our website www.mra.org.mt Date: Monday 21 July 2012 Venue : Europa House Valletta Time: 8.30am – 1.00pm