Category: Archive – 2008

Green MT Ltd is earnestly awaiting MEPA to issue the necessary licences to get GRTU’s own waste packaging scheme into action.

Joe Attard, the CEO of Green MT Ltd is determined to make Green MT’s packaging waste management scheme a success.

“This is not for profit organisation started on the initiative of GRTU on behalf of producers and importers of electrical and electronic products who are now responsible for the collection and recycling of all packaging material introduced by them in the Maltese market” explained Joe Attard.

Currently these entrepreneurs pay 12 million eco-tax to Government. Many leaders pay, unfortunately however many other evade. Those who pay are not relieved of their responsibility of law as eco-tax as it should does not relieve entrepreneurs of their responsibility at law as “polluters”.
“Eco-tax as it stands is a silly law argues” Joe Attard, “Government gets the money collected but this is not even so those who evade compete unfairly with those who pay regularly, yet all remain liable at law as polluters”.
Speaking on this issue to potential scheme members GRTU’s Director General Vince Farrugia assured would be participants that:

• GRTU is insisting with Government for the reform of eco-contribution. It is an unjust law that discriminates badly among businesses, castigating the few and releasing the many.

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• On enforcement: enforcement is grossly unjust as it is currently managed. Government sets an annual figure that it sets to collect. Once this figure is in  Government disregards all evaders.

• GRTU expects Government to approve GRTU’s Green MT scheme and publish immediately after the rules governing the refunding or exemption from payment of eco-tax to participating scheme members.

Vince Farrugia’s bold demands have the support of all major players. “GRTU is determined to cause Government to see sense, get the eco-taxation reform moving and sell the stage for the efficient management of waste packaging lead to the organised private sector business representatives” assures Vince Farrugia.

We know it now. GRTU has been screaming loud ever since the surcharge on water was introduced that it is nothing but a rip-off. Government did not want to listen and the European Commission preferred to listen to the Maltese Government rather than the Maltese voice of small businesses.

The facts are clear enough; the published accounts of the Water Service Corporation (WSC) showed one year after another that the electricity costs of the WSC in its function of producing water for consumption is only 28% of the total WSC costs. Then why charge the public the full surcharge on the entire water bill as well as on the entire electricity bill when the right ratio should have been 28%.

Now the rip-off has grown further. Water Services Corporation, it was confirmed at Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) last Friday has succeeded to bring down the electricity content of its cost structure to 6%.

The days on the old vehicle taxation regime are now counted. The special task force set up by the Ministry of Finance to draw-up recommendations has concluded its work and effected extensive research and selected quality consultation.

GRTU has done its utmost to ensure that the final conclusions are fair to all car dealers- importers of new, commercial and used vehicles originating from Europe or outside; and at the same time not leaving the local second hand car dealer out.

GRTU has also looked at the interests of users; GRTU represents cargo haulers, passenger coaches, distributors, roads contractors and developers, waste carriers and local tourist tour operators. All these groups are eager to see implemented a scheme that reduces the unacceptable high level of vehicle registration tax that makes their investment much costlier.

GRTU also wants to defend the car purchaser as the car owner. With more than the 7000 members GRTU also represents vast cross-section of consumers.

Consultations are now almost concluded and all organised stakeholders had a chance to meet the task force and assess what is being proposed. Next step is for Government to announce the scheme for further reactions, so as to decide on a final solution.

GRTU believes that nothing should be allowed to stop Government from implementing the new vehicle taxation system before the end of July 2008.

GRTU’s representative at the European Economic and Social Committee, Ms Sylvia Gauci, was invited to give the highlights the initiative paper entitled: “Meeting the challenges of WEEE Management in the EU” drawn up by her and her expert Christinna Papazahariou.

Sylvia explained that this initiative comes at a very appropriate time because we are at a stage where the Commission is reviewing the WEEE Directive and Member states are expected to communicate to the Commission what stage of implementation they are in.

So far, the Directive has been transposed in all EU countries; there is one Member State (MS) however where the Directive is not applied yet. To GRTU’s disappointment this MS is Malta.

Through this own member initiative Sylvia Gauci pointed out a few of the limitations that the environment legislation can cause to the smooth functioning of the internal market since a number of WEEE directive provisions have an effect on the free movement of electronic and electrical goods in the Internal Market. Sylvia Gauci explained that unfortunately on insisting on minimum provisions the Commission is investing on greater disparities in the execution of WEEE waste management schemes in different MS.

A typical example is the entire labelling idea contained in the WEEE Directive. The crossed wheelie bin is a minimum requirement set by the Directive itself, however almost all MS have added extra labelling requirements in addition to indicating the crossed wheelie bin, like the date of putting on the market and the weight of the product.

Divergent labelling requirements imply a labelling policy per national market.  This is an extra cost for market operators. Extra costs never encourage operators to introduce themselves to new markets.

What GRTU finds alarming is that it transpired that Malta is the only MS who has not yet implemented the Directive.

As both our members and the Government are aware GRTU has already made all the necessary arrangements to help the Government transpose the Directive in way that the burden is carried by GRTU’s fully owned subsidiary company, Green MT, and businesses are left to do what they exist to do, business.

GRTU insists that Government should start off private sector initiative which was started by GRTU. This so that Malta can also be part of the EU lead campaign to have effective WEEE waste management scheme functioning in all member States.

The Czech Commercial Delegation will be headed by the Deputy Minister of industry and Trade Dr Milan Hovoroka and will be meeting you on the morning or the 11th of June for a presentation and in the afternoon for one to one meetings, should you be interested.

The delegation will be composed of:

–          Czech travel journal– Casopisy Joy

–          Agency in medical services– The European Medical Agency Foundation/ Fund

–          Real estate agency– Savino & Prtners

–          Financial services organisation.

The presentations will be held at Malta Enterprise Offices in San Gwann.

If you are interested in meeting any of these organisations you are to contact Abigail Mamo at your earliest by calling on 21 232 881/3 or email .

You will be given more information on the companies that are attending through their company profile. In this way you will know if this visit is to your interest.

This is a very good business opportunity, it’s literally business knocking at your door!

Do not miss this opportunity!

The reason why the price of diesel is so high is not simply because the world price for oil keeps rising. The price per litre is beyond the pocket of most; primarily due to government taxes imposed on every litre of diesel. Diesel in Malta is taxed at €0.34c per litre.

To make matters worse, over and above the TAX there is also the 18% VAT.  This simply means that for every litre of diesel our members put in the tank to enable them to distribute, deliver or transport goods or people, 50% of what they pay goes to Government as TAX, and then this burden is blamed all on the sheiks.

GRTU's Director General, Vince Farrugia raised this issue at MCESD and requested the Minister of Finance to do what other Ministers of Finance in most EU countries are doing to support their Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)- reduce the tax on diesel.

Diesel is the fuel that is most commonly used amongst SMEs and it is the cost that is increasingly being loaded on to many consumable's prices that consumers buy on a regular basis.

Inflation on the harmonised index of consumer prices is 4.3%, not the highest in Europe they tell us, but it's a historical high for Malta and far above what is expected of us now that we are in the Eurozone.

Government, argued Vince Farrugia at MCESD, cannot continue to increase its revenue every time the sheiks put the price up as most small business owners simply cannot take it anymore… GRTU's message at MCESD was loud and clear: reduce the tax on diesel and give small businesses and consumers a break.

"It's high time something is done to control inflation, there is absolutely no evidence that inflation is caused at the retail level as NSO figures show that retailers operating surpluses are going down not up while imported inflation continues to rise. This signifies that traders and retailers are absorbing quite a chunk of the inflation thrown at us from abroad. Something needs to be done at the local level. Reducing the TAX on diesel to mitigate for price increases from overseas is a very good point from where to start" concluded Vince Farrugia.

 Some thought it strange that it was the national Traders and Retailers Union that persistently raised the alarm about OFT, particularly during the years when OFT remained effectively choked, or rather headless, when no head of OFT was appointed. GRTU had even complained to the EU Commissioner responsible for competition, but strange as that may seem the European Commission wrote that it was not up to them to insist that there should be a properly manned OFT in Malta. It’s incredible, but sadly true.

Now finally things have changed. Not only has OFT an effective head that is increasingly reaching out to meet the levels of effectiveness expected of her, but the office is also better manned and more capable of handling serious investigations. There’s still a long way to go but positive signs are there and they are very clearly marked.

 The proposal, besides ensuring legal certainty, is also intent on ascertaining the safety of the products placed on the market. An important element of the proposal entails the introduction of clear minimum requirements for the assessment of cosmetics safety. Rules relating to the reporting of undesirable effects, product withdrawal, the coordination of enforcement and simplified notification requirements are also included.

The current proposal is under discussion and so stakeholders are still in time, not only to inform themselves of the implications but also to provide their views on this legislative development at an early stage.

In view of this an information and consultation session is being organised; by Forum Malta Fl-Ewropa, the Malta Standards authority and the European Enterprise Network; which should be of interest to: manufacturers; importers and retailers of cosmetics.

The session shall be held on the 4^th of June 2008 at the Trade Winds Hall, at the Malta Enterprise in San Gwann, between 09.00-11.00 hrs.

Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is required in view of seating restrictions. A registration can be obtained from Forum Malta Fl-Ewropa and registrations should reach Brian Pace at Forum Malta fl-Ewropa by not later than noon of Monday 2nd June 2008 by email to .

It would be beneficial for local stakeholders to raise their views on issues of direct importance. A document will be circulated and will be providing an outline of the Commission proposal, a copy of which is available online on: www.forummalta.gov.mt/Portals/FME/Documents/com_2008_49_en.pdf.   

The Directive regulating toy safety has been in force since 1988 and its replacement and modernisation is evidently required. The European Commission has presented a legislative proposal that seeks to introduce new and more stringent safety requirements, strengthen manufacturers' and importers' responsibility for the marketing of toys and enhance the market surveillance obligations of the Member States.

Important elements of the proposal entail the prohibition of chemical substances that could cause cancer; a reduction in the permissible quantities for certain dangerous chemical substances; the prohibition of allergenic fragrances; a ban on toys attached to food products; as well as more responsibility for importers and manufacturers, among others.

The current proposal is under discussion and so stakeholders are still in time, not only to inform themselves of the implications but also to provide their views on this legislative development at an early stage.

In view of this an information and consultation session is being organised which should be of interest to: manufacturers; importers and retailers.

The session shall be held on the 4^th of June 2008 at the Trade Winds Hall, at the Malta Enterprise in San Gwann, between 1300-1500 hrs.

Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is required in view of seating restrictions. A registration can be obtained from Forum Malta Fl-Ewropa and registrations should reach Brian Pace at Forum Malta fl-Ewropa by not later than noon of Monday 2nd June 2008 by email to .

It would be beneficial for local stakeholders to raise their views on issues of direct importance.

A document will be circulated and will be providing an outline of the Commission proposal, a copy of which is available online on: http://www.forummalta.gov.mt/Portals/