Author: SME Chamber

1. Utilising internal funds for conducting a development project is not always a possibility. External funding opportunities are available but deciding which one suits the company's needs is a project in itself! This event organised by Malta Enterprise will give an overview of existing funding which may be utilised by companies to conduct research or innovative projects. Places are limited. For further information, bookings and enquiries contact Malta Enterprise on 2542 0000 or .

 

Date: 18th January 2011         Time: 09.00 – 14.30        Venue: The Palace, Sliema         Fee: €25 

 

2. General CIP information session, with special focus on the current CIP consultation process on the future of the CIP and where a general overview of all the 2011 calls (IEE, EIP and ICT-PSP) will be provided. This will take place on Monday 17^th January at 14:00hrs at MBB, Casa Leone, Pjazza Robert Sammut, Floriana

3. Specific information session on the IEE programme. The EU will publish the call for proposals end of January, hence we are providing a detailed overview of this particular funding programme, including the priorities for 2011 and information on how to go about application. This will take place on Thursday 20^th January at 8:30hrs. MBB, Casa Leone, Pjazza Robert Sammut, Floriana

Background

Manufacturers and importers who wish to place a construction product on the European market need to check which harmonised standard applies to their construction product and follow the standard in order to be entitled to affix the CE marking on their product.

 

The list of harmonised European Standards pertaining to the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) has been updated and published in the Official Journal of the European Union and hence the national Construction Products Regulations need to be amended so as to reflect the updates carried out at European level. The lists of European Technical Approvals and European Technical Approval Guidelines have also been updated.

Key points in the text of the new proposal

Schedule V of the Constuction Products Regulations will be substituted in order to update the list of harmonised Standards of construction products for which CE marking is mandatory. This list now features a total of 402 harmonised standards. The date of applicability of the standard as a harmonised European standard and the date of the end of the co-existence period have also been included for each of the harmonised standard listed. It is very important to note that, when a harmonised standard is replaced with a new version, both versions of the standard can be used for the purpose of affixing CE marking until the end of the coexistence period. After this period, it becomes obligatory to use the recent version of the standard.

Please send any comments to Ing Thomas Consoli not later than 31^st January 2011 at noon on

Note that the deadline for submitting feedback has been set for the 31^st January 2011.

Thomas Consoli

Ecodesign requirements (minimum energy requirements) for Household Dishwashers and Washing Machines have been set and are due to come into force as per dates indicated below.

 

These regulations establish ecodesign requirements for the placing on the market of:

Electric mains-operated household dishwashers/washing machines;

Electric mains-operated household dishwashers/washing machines, that can also be powered by batteries;

Household dishwashers/washing machines sold for non-household use;

Built-in household dishwashers/washing machines.

Household combined washer-driers are exempt.

 

The following links may be used for further reference to the respective regulations:

Household Dishwashers

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1016/2010 of 10 November 2010 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for household dishwashers http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:293:0031:0040:EN:PDF

Household Washing Machines

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010 of 10 November 2010 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for household washing machines http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:293:0021:0030:EN:PDF

 

The ecodesign requirements listed shall apply in accordance with the following timetable:

Household Washing Machines

1 June 2011          

the essential information to be included in the booklet of instructions provided by the manufacturer;

1 December 2011 

minimum efficiency levels and the maximum water consumption have been set;

1 December 2012 

standard 40^◦C and 60^◦C cotton programmes are to be used for the calculation of energy consumption, and must be clearly identifiable on the program selection device or display;         

1 December 2013 

minimum efficiency levels and maximum water consumption shall become more stringent;

20^◦C programme shall be available and clearly identifiable.

 

Household Dishwashers

1 December 2011 

minimum efficiency limits have been set;

1 June 2012 

the essential information to be included in the booklet of instructions provided by the manufacturer;

1 December 2012 

‘standard programme' to be used for the calculation of energy consumption, must be clearly identifiable on the program selection device or display, and shall be set as the default cycle;      

1 December 2013 

minimum efficiency limits shall become more stringent;

1 December 2016 

the minimum efficiency limits shall become even more rigorous.

Please send any comments to Ing Elton Camilleri not later than 31^st January 2011 at noon. On

An EORI number is a number, unique throughout the European Community, assigned by a customs authority in a Member State to economic operators (businesses) or persons. By registering for customs purposes in one Member State, an Economic Operator (EO) is able to obtain an EORI number which is valid throughout the Community. The EO will then use this number in all communications with any EC customs authorities where a customs identifier is required for example customs declarations.

 

The implementation of EORI should ensure that the measures to enhance security introduced by the Security Amendment (Council Regulation 648/2005) and its Implementing Provisions will be more effective if EOs could be identified by reference to a common number unique to each EO within the EU.

EORI commenced across the EU on 1 July 2009.

This unique number will be used by EOs, for example, on the provision to the customs authorities of pre-arrival and pre-departure information on all goods entering and leaving the customs territory of the Community. The EORI number is also included on the customs declaration when you import your goods from or export goods to countries outside the European Union (EU). This includes if you occasionally buy items for your business from outside the EU for example machinery/equipment, goods for exhibition, samples, office supplies etc even though your business is not usually involved in importing or exporting.

In addition it will be used for the exchange of information between the customs authorities as well as between customs authorities and other authorities for example other government departments but only in respect of the movement of goods involving a customs procedure.

GRTU would like to inform its members that Malta has decided to keep the current VAT Number as the EORI Number.

All updated information can be found in the following link:

http://ec.europa.eu/ecip/documents/who_is/eori_national_implementation_en.pdf

It provides information regarding each Member State implementation and procedures. Malta can be found on Page 37 of this document.

GRTU would like to make its members aware of the possibility to fill in an online questionnaire on administrative burden.  The questionnaire is part of the ongoing effort of the European Commission to cut red tape.

 

Many SMEs, especially those in trade, suffer from the extensive obligations flowing from the Intrastat regulation. If the Commission receives sufficient responses that address this topic, it might cause them to amend the regulation. Therefore I would urge you to make use of this opportunity.

Below the link to the questionnaire.

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/better-regulation/administrative-burdens/online-consultation/submit-an-idea/index_en.htm

The Questionnaire

The European Commission has launched a major Action Programme for reducing administrative burdens (2007-2012). This programme focuses on the information that EU businesses are obliged to provide to public authorities or private parties: information required for legal registration, certification, inspection, subsidy; filing statistical forms; energy labels for consumers or reports to stockholders; etc.

If you feel that you are obliged to provide unnecessary information or that the required information could be provided in a more efficient way, please use the questionnairs to submit your suggestion(s). If you have problems with several pieces of legislation, use preferably a separate form for each piece of legislation.

Each suggestion will be examined by the Commission. Every three months the Commission will prepare a summary of these suggestions and an overall feedback.

Your personal data are collected only to the extent necessary for processing your submission. More information on Personal

Questions and comments on this consultation should be sent to:

Il-GRTU din il-gimgha kitbet lill-Hon Pullicino u qaltlu hekk:

B'dispjacir kbir ninfurmawk illi jidher illi dak miftiehem mal-Ministeru ghar-Rizorsi u l-Affarijiet Rurali, wara process twil ta' konsultazzjoni li fih kont involut kemm inti personalment kif ukoll is-Segretarju Permanenti Dr. Cianter, gie skartat ghal kollox mill-Malta Resouces Authority. Dan l-atteggjament dispreggjattiv gie kristallizzat permezz ta' ittra mibghuta mill-MRA lill-membri tal-GRTU fl-4 ta' Jannar 2011, fejn filwaqt li intalab il-hlas tal-mizata ta' €200 fis-sena ghas-snin 2010/2011, ammontanti ghal €400, intalab ukoll il-hlas tal-etracking ammontanti ghal €425, u tal-level sensor ammontanti ghal €800 permezz ta' kopja annessa ta' ittra ohra datata 2 ta' Frar 2010, liema zewg hlasijiet kienu gew sospizi kif jidher mill-ittra ta' Dr. Ciantar tat-22 ta' Ottubru 2010 u li ad verbatim tghid "bis-sahha ta' din l-ittra, nixtieq nipprezenta l-pozizzjoni ta' dan il-Ministeru dwar il-punti pendenti".

 

Illi a skans ta' ekwivoci, l-ostinita' tal-MRA illi ma taghti kaz lil hadd, la tal-Ministeru u lanqas tal-GRTU bhala msiehba socjali skond il-ligi, giet verifikata mill-membri li marru fis-sede tal-MRA biex ihalsu l-mizata sabiex igorru l-ilma, izda li intalbu li jhalsu ukoll il-pagamenti sospizi ossija dawk ta' €425 u ta' €800, bi ksur tal-ittra ta' Dr. Ciantar.

Ghalhekk bil-prezenti ninfurmawk illi l-membri gew diretti sabiex ma jwettqu l-ebda hlas lill-MRA, sakemm ma tkunx iccarata l-pozizzjoni illi f'dan l-istadju l-hlasijeit li ser isiru huma biss dawk miftehma u patwita mal-Ministeru ghar-Rizorsi u l-Affarijiet Rurali, ossija (1) il-mizata ta' €200 fis-sena bhala mizata ghall-licenzja u (2) il-pagament ta' €110 ghall-module tal-ismart metering meta l-operaturi jissejhu biex jaghmlu dan il-hlas. Infakkruk illi skond dak miftiehem, is-sistema ta' level meter fuq it-trakkijiet gie sospiz; il-hlas tal-etracking gie sospiz u l-hlas ta' €100 ghall-wellhead cover gie sospiz.

Il-GRTU qeda tistenna risposta.

Dan ix-xahar il-GRTU kitbet lill-Hon George Pullicino u l-Hon Tonio Fenech dwar l-iskemi Godda Favur l-Energija Alternattiva. Il-GRTU esprimiet li temmen bis-shih li ghad baqalna hafna u hafna x'naghmlu biex niehdu l-vantaggi kollha li nistghu niehdu f'dak li hu investiment fl-energija alternattiva specjalment fil-qasam tal-energija mix-xemx.

 

 

 

Il-GRTU tirrikonoxxi li permezz tal-hidma taghna u ta' hafna ohra u bl-impenn shih ta' diversi  Awtoritajiet u Ministri  tal-Gvern u b'uzu ghaqli ta' fondi ewropej Malta irnexxiela  thaddem skemi ta' agevolazzjoni favur it-tkattir tal-uzu ta'panelli fotovoltajici li ghalkemm hemm lok ghal titjib, taw rizultati tajbin u wara hafna qtiegh il-qalb hadmu. Wara l-ahhar skema tal-panelli issa wiehed irid jara x'ser isir. Il-GRTU talbet direzzjoni ghas-settur tas-solar thermal (solar water heaters).

Il-GRTU talbet li issa titwettaq l-iskema imweghda fl-iqsar zmien possiblli ghaliex is-settur li jforni il-prodotti issa hu iggerjat sew ghal dan in-negozju u dan fih innifsu hu sinjal tajjeb.  Pero is-settur issa jixtieq jara impenn kontinwu biex ir-ritmu ta' xoghol ikompli u l-intraprizi f'dan is-settur ma jaqghux kull darba f'livell ta' attivita' li tkissrilhom ir-ritmu ta' xoghol u impenn li issa lahqu, b'dannu ghall-investiment taghhom u ghall-livell ta'  mpjiegi li issa lahqu. Dawn l-intraprizi assolutament ma jistghux jiffunzjonaw fuq livell ta' l-fuq u l-isfel jistennew skema ghall-ohra ghax is-suq bla skemi mhux b'sahhtu li jista`jsostni l-livell ta' investiment li sar s'sissa.

Ghalhekk il-GRTU qed tappella  biex jithaffef il-process ta' implimentazzjoni u jibdew bla dewmien aktar  id-diskussjonijiet dwar dawn li skemi l-godda.  Nappellaw li din id-darba ma jigux mahduma affarijiet bla ma tkun saret diskussjoni dettaljata mall-GRTU halli mhux biss ikun assigurat li d-dettalji jkunu korretti u miftehma imma wkoll ma jkunx hemm min jikkapparra d-diskussjoni b'intenzjoni kapricjuza. Il-GRTU dejjem resqet lejn dawn diskussjonijiet b'mod oggettiv u ghalhekk nistennew li din id-darba l-GRTU tkun centrali ghad-diskussjoni qabel jittiehdu d-decizjonijiet.

Il-GRTU ghandha l-akbar rispett lejn il-professjonisti tal-Awtoritajiet f'dan is-settur pero mil-lat prattiku u kummercjali l-GRTU tibqa' fundamentali. Dan sabiex l-iskemi jigu mfassla b'mod li jahdem u li jkunu gusti. Jekk ma jsirx hekk u l-iskemi jigu mfassla ghal darb'ohra minn professjonisti wahedhom bla pariri teknici ta' mizura kummercjali nibzghu li jerga jkollna hafna telf ta' zmien bi skemi mhux prattici u li ma jahdmux mija fil-mija tajjeb, jew skemi li wara li jibdew u jsir hafna xoghol jitwaqqfu hesrem. Dan kollu l-esperjenza urietna li ma hu qed jiswa ghal xejn hlief biex:

In-nies li jkunu ser japplikaw jaqtghu qalbhom quddiem it-turrun karti li jridu jimlew,

In-negozjanti jaqtghu qalbhom u nifishom jghazqu fl-ilma u hafna minnhom jispiccaw ifallu,

Il-gvern jittardja milli jilhaq il-miri tieghu,

Jintilfu l-impjiegi ta'nies teknici li jaqtghu qalbhom mis-settur u jsibu impjieg f'setturi ohrajn,

Jiehdu isem hazin l-MRA li tamministra l-fondi, il-ministeru u l-gvern li jniedu skemi li ghal ragunijiet differenti ma jahdmux.

Il-GRTU temmet billi spjegat li qed nitkellmu car ghax nifhmu li l-ghanijiet taghna huma simili u li irridu li it-targets nazzjonali jintlahqu u li l-fondi disponibbli ghal dan jithaddmu bl-aktar mod efikaci.

Risposta

Il-Gvern minn dejjern kien u ghadu lest biex jisma s-suggerimenti u I-kummenti siewja li s-settur tan-negozju jkollu ghal skemi u inizjattivi li jkunu se jittiehdu biex fost l-ohrajn jghinu lill-familji u s-settur kummercjali u industrijali jinvesti fil-qasam ta' sorsi ta' energija li tiggedded.

Nassigurak kif sar dan l-ahhar, meta naslu biex inniedu l-iskema l-gdida li taghti ghotja ghal xiri ta' pannelli fotovoltajci u solar water heaters ghal uzu domestiku is-settur kumme rcjali jigi ikkonsultat.

L-interess tal-Gvern hu li jara li skemi bhal dawn ikunu success u li n-numru massimu ta' familji jkunu jistghu jgawdu minnhom.

This week negotiations continued with the Malta Resources Authority, Liquigas and Easygas to find practical solutions to the gas distribution problems caused by recent developments. The Prime Minister replied to GRTU on the points raised by gas distributors. Essentially the Prime Minister confirmed GRTU's position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That the 1992 contract with Enemalta now binds Liquigas to utilise the gas distributors system of distribution and no other. The OFC decision on the other hand gives Easygas the facility to use the established system. Minister Pullicino on the other hand has stated publicly that Government will, for environmental and practical traffic management problems strive to have only one system of door to door distribution. GRTU believes that it is the responsibility of MRA to see that Government's objectives are satisfied.

The European Commission has proposed to ban the use of phosphates and to limit the content of other phosphorous containing compounds in laundry detergents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The draft Regulation aims to reduce the phosphates found in waste water and to improve water quality. The draft Regulation does not affect detergents for automatic dishwashers or those used by professionals as technically and economically feasible alternatives are not yet available throughout the EU but the European Commission will review the situation concerning automatic dishwashers' detergents by end of 2014. However, Member States can regulate the phosphate content of these detergents in specific circumstances.

http://www.msa.org.mt/rad/chemicals/consultations/2010/Ongoing/

The link above gives access to the Commission proposal, the impact assessment summary and the information consultation document.

In view of the above kindly submit any comments by mail, fax or e-mail by Friday 21^st January 2011 to Audrey Anne Anastasi on