Author: SME Chamber

This is a very important notice for all importers as this affects the HS Codes on which you import, which the GRTU received from the Customs Department.

 

The Combined Nomenclature (CN) is updated at the end of every year and any changes take legal effect from the 1st January of the following year. The Common Customs Tariff for 2012 has been published by means of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1006/2011 of 27 September 2011 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff, available at link below:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOIndex.do?year=2011&serie=L&textfield2=282&Submit=Search&ihmlang=en

The new tariff (effective 1 January 2012) introduces significant changes; approximately 800 codes present in the 2011 edition have been withdrawn and a similar number of new lines introduced. There are significant code changes on goods such as meat, fish, fruit and vegetable preparations, fuels, chemicals, articles of iron or steel, printers, recorded/unrecorded media, set-top boxes, cycles and sanitary products.

You can also click on the following link:

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/taric_consultation.jsp?Lang=en&Screen=0&redirectionDate=20110104&SimDate=20120101

to check whether there will be changes at Taric code level (10 digit level). Particular caution is required in this regard as changes of this type can occur at irregular intervals and with little notice from the EU Commission. For instance some products which where VAT exempt on importation might have now become subject to VAT, this of course always on imports from outside the EU.

Members may wish to consult the correlation tables 2011-2012 for guidance at http://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/businesses/importing/cn-correction-tables.pdf. The Correlation Tables will assist traders to establish if their particular codes will be affected by the changes. However, only individual traders will know the codes which are of interest to them and it is important to note that the onus is on each individual trader to carry out checks to confirm whether or not their existing codes will be changing.

The customs Binding Tariff Information Unit is available to assist with classification issues. You are invited to send queries on: .

 

A company manufacturing an innovative product (heater) which is mainly aimed at heating compressed air. Warmer air is very useful using compressed air for water-based paint spraying (automotive, marine, aeronautics, carpentry & furniture industry mainly). The applications of warm air can also be medical (dental mainly) and industrial (heating up tools, protecting compressed air powered tools, defrosting specific applications, etc.

 

When used in painting, the three greatest advantages of the heater are:

–  paint saving (up to 20%) –  time saving (both in spraying and drying)

–  aesthetic improvement (mirror effect vs. orange peel effect) –  the fourth advantage is the price

The system is also extremely modular, this way the final customer is not obliged to purchase parts he already has. Last but not least the heater offers a constant air outlet and the maintenance kit is made of filters and o-rings.

If you are interested in this offer you are invited to kindly contact Michael Galea on .

As was previously informed Transport Malta had consulted the GRTU on the phasing and the traffic management for the Triq Dicembru 13 to Menqa Roundabout Marsa Ten T Project commencing shortly. GRTU is informed that GRTU's request to have works started after the festive season was received positively by Transport Malta and therefore works should start later on than originally planned following GRTU's request. GRTU is currently waiting for an official confirmation from Transport Malta.

We remind readers that the works we are referring to are those of Triq Patri Felicjan Bilocca, Marsa.

GRTU once again thanks Transport Malta for the consultation.

The European Commission has awarded grants to support initiatives aimed at tackling violence and intolerance in sport, and to strengthen the administration of sport in Europe. Twelve trans-national projects received grants ranging from €125,000 to €200,000 as part of a package intended to pave the way for the launch of an EU subprogramme for sport which would also support grassroots campaigns to promote physical activity, social inclusion through sport, and the fight against doping.

Valletta, Malta's capital city, supported by all other localities in Malta and Gozo, recently submitted its candidature to be designated as the European Capital of Culture 2018. The application was presented by Valletta Mayor Alexei Dingli to the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, Culture and the Environment. Valletta's bid, V.18,addresses the development of an environment for exchange which enables communication and learning experiences for citizens of Malta, Europe and the Mediterranean, differing in age, gender, physical needs, ethnicity and employment. V.18 aims to support citizens through the development of sound cultural and technological infrastructures that will encourage access to and participation in the arts, an inclusive approach to culture, the professionalization of performers and cultural operators and the internationalization of Maltese creativity, primarily through European partnerships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The European Capital of Culture is a flagship programme of the EU which can provide Valletta with the opportunity to experience social, economic and cultural generation aiming at leaving a long-term legacy on the city. Information from MEUSAC News

Applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables originating of China, Ukraine and South Africa –The anti-dumping measures currently in place on imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China, Ukraine and South Africa were initially imposed for the first time back in 1999. The Commission is proposing that measures be extended for another term.

The current duty rates are equal to 60.4% for imports originating in China, 51.8% for imports with Ukrainian origin and 38.6% for imports with South African origin.  

Due to circumvention practices, the measures were also extended to imports consigned from the Republic of Korea, Morocco and Moldova.

The product concerned is steel ropes and cables, including locked coil ropes, excluding ropes and cables of stainless steel, with a maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeding 3mm, currently falling within CN codes ex73121081, ex73121083, ex73121085, ex73121089 and ex73121098.

This product is used in various applications ranging from agriculture, fishing and construction (lower-end products) to oil rigging, bridge suspension, mining and elevators (higher-end products).  

More information on this case can be accessed through the link below:

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/tdi/case_details.cfm?ref=com&id=1679&sta=1&en=20&page=1&number=&prod=rope&code=&scountry=all&proceed=all&status=all&measures=all&measure_type=all&search=ok&c_order=name&c_order_dir=Up

Members who think will be effected are to contact Abigail Mamo at GRTU.

Nine EU directives covering a wide variety of products will ensure better product safety. The sectors concerned are electrical and electronic products, lifts, measuring instruments, civil explosives, pyrotechnic articles and equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

 

Market surveillance and customs officers can now better check the safety of products using more effective tools. In addition, Member States can improve the supervision of monitoring bodies that check the conformity of products with EU law, for example ensuring that the CE marking has been properly applied by manufacturers.

Certain provisions of the nine directives are being aligned with model provisions developed at EU level to overcome divergences in EU law which make life hard for businesses. In the future, producers, importers and distributors will profit from uniform trading conditions. At the same time this process will further improve the safety of products on sale in the EU by strengthening compliance procedures and make it easier to keep non-compliant products off the market.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship, stated: "Safety of products is our first priority. Also, producers and distributors will profit from increased consumer trust. Moreover, EU product legislation is now starting to take on a more uniform "look", leading to reductions in administrative burden and costs. However, it is not sufficient to strengthen the rules. We also need Member States to ensure enhanced market surveillance deterring unscrupulous market operators."

Double taxation, and double non-taxation, contradict the very spirit of the Single Market. Yet many citizens and businesses are still suffering heavier tax burdens just because they operate in more than one Member State. Meanwhile, others are using loopholes between national systems to escape paying taxes that they owe. Determined to tackle this problem, the Commission adopted a Communication on Double Taxation.

 

 

 

This Communication highlights where the main double taxation problems lie within the EU, and outlines concrete measures that the Commission will take to address them. In doing so, the Commission seeks to remove real obstacles to a more competitive economy and make the EU easier to invest and do business in.

Algirdas Šemeta, Commissioner for Taxation, Customs, Anti-Fraud and Audit, said: "We must be able to send the message to all citizens, businesses and trading partners: the EU does not tax twice! Double taxation is one of the biggest tax obstacles to the Internal Market, and can no longer be overlooked. Today I have presented clear and feasible ways to tackle double taxation, which will make the EU a more attractive place to live and work in."

A public consultation carried out by the Commission found that more than 20% of reported cases of double taxation of businesses were worth over €1 million, while for individuals, more than 35% of double taxation cases were worth more than €100 000.

Background

Currently under EU law, there is nothing to oblige Member States to prevent non-discriminatory double taxation. Although Member States try to relieve double taxation through measures such as bilateral and multilateral double taxation conventions, these do not provide adequate protection for citizens and businesses due to various shortcomings (e.g. too narrow scope, lack of uniformity amongst Member States' provisions, administrative burdens, long time-lines for dispute resolution etc.). The 2010 Citizenship report highlights the inadequacy of existing mechanisms to avoid double taxation in the EU. The problem of double taxation therefore continues to create barriers to cross-border establishment, activity and investment in the EU.

Clearly, given its cross-border nature, further action at EU-level is needed to fully and effectively address this problem. Over the past year, the Commission has already made headway in tackling double taxation in specific areas e.g. the proposal for a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base.  Today's Communication launches the next phase of work to try to bring an end to the problem of double taxation, for the benefit of both citizens and businesses across Europe. 

Next steps

As an immediate first step to strengthen existing legislation against double taxation, the Commission also adopted today a simultaneous proposal to improve the Interest and Royalties Directive. This aims to reduce the instances of one Member State levying a withholding tax on a payment, while another Member State taxes the same payment. Other areas in which the Commission intends to propose specific solutions to double taxation problems include cross-border inheritance tax in the near future and dividends paid to portfolio investors later on.

The Commission will also work on other possibilities to help eliminate cross-border double taxation, such as creating an EU Forum to develop a code of conduct on double taxation and a binding dispute resolution procedure for unresolved double taxation cases.

With regard to double non-taxation, which causes considerable losses to public revenues, the Commission will launch a consultation to gauge the full scale of the problem. On the basis of this consultation, it will determine the most appropriate and effective measures to prevent double non-taxation and come forward with solutions next year.

The Commission will submit the Communication on Double Taxation to the European Parliament, Council and European Economic and Social Committee for discussion and the Interest and Royalty Directive proposal to Council and the European Parliament.

GRTU's Director General Vincent Farrugia as member of the EESC has been appointed as Rapporteur on behalf of the EESC to draft an opinion on the subject. Which opinion, once approved, will be taken into consideration by the Commission before issuing the law.

The European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA) shall be holding a series of information meetings to provide an overview of the open calls for 2012 and to give specific guidelines on how to apply. These shall be on:

Monday 5th December – Leonardo da Vinci Mobility and Transfer of Innovation;

Tuesday 6th December – Small Scale Cooperation (Comenius Partnerships, Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships, Grundtvig Partnerships, and Grundtvig Senior Volunteering Projects);

Wednesday 7th December – Individual Mobility (Comenius In-Service Training, Grundtvig In-Service Training, Grundtvig Visits and Exchanges, and Grundtvig Learning Workshops).

Maurice de Marco Hall at EUPA premises, 36, Old Mint Street, Valletta between 10am and noon.

Interested persons can register by sending their contact details i.e. name and surname, name of institution they represent and the action they are interested in .

More information with regards to the Lifelong Learning Programme Call for 2012, including closing dates, official documentation and guides for applicants, can be found on the website www.llp.eupa.org.mt.

These initiatives are funded with the support of the European Commission (Directorate General Education and Culture).