Category: Archive – 2010

GRTU has this week held a very successful information session for its members on the new scheme launched by Malta Enterprise for the benefit of small businesses (less than 9 full-time employees as at 10th November 2009) and self-employed.

The scheme is being offered for businesses to innovate, expand, develop and invest. The main benefit is that through these investments in the betterment of their businesses they would be able to deduct as much as €25,000 could be reached up till 2013 and therefore over a period and not within 1 year. Enterprises based in Gozo are entitled to 60% on the total investment however the capping is still maintained the same.

To be eligible the business has to be an activity registered with the VAT Department and in possession of the required licences. They must also not be defaulting on VAT, Income Tax, Social Security and rent due to Government. Costs applied for under this scheme have to be incurred between Jan 2010 and Dec 2011. What costs are Covered:

• Furbishing and upgrading of business premises for improved operations
• Machinery or technologies to improve operations, save or generate energy
• Cost of one commercial vehicle as long as such vehicle is involved in the transport of goods as specified in the guidelines
• Investments which enable compliance with regulations, including Health and Safety, Environment Directives and Physical Access
• Wage costs for new jobs created and/or apprenticeships taken, as long as these constitute a net increase in total working hrs

Applications are made AFTER he investment is made. There is an official application that should be completed electronically and sent/delivered until 31st March 2012.

Contact Abigail Mamo @ GRTU for more information.

Abigail Mamo –

Mario Debono (Council Member and Pharmacies representative)

GRTU Malta Chamber of SME's as national representative of owners of Pharmacies in the Community strongly condemns the unwarranted attack by the Medical Association of Malta, the trade union representing medical professionals, on the pharmacy licence system operated in Malta. This is the system that has provided privately run and owned pharmacies in the community that has given excellent service to patients throughout Malta and Gozo and that has been solely responsible for the dispensing of medicine to most Maltese at no additional cost to patients, except the controlled price mark-up established at law.

Pharmacies in the Community have no economic power to impose prices that are above the margins marked on importers the wholesale price of medicine delivered to pharmacies and prices of medicines are the same all over Malta as competition at the pharmacy level does not, and cannot affect the price of medicines at the pharmacy level. It is therefore incredible that an association of professionals can be so naïve and ignorant of elementary facts of economics to issue a press release so infantile and replete of errors as the one issued by MAM to comment on an issue which is really far out of its remit.

The proposal by the Minister Of Health to allay the burden some doctors seem to be complaining about by allowing pharmacists to prescribe medicines, besides being a proposal, has absolutely nothing to do with the issue of pharmacy licences and pharmaceutical prices, and MAM is rushing into judgement on this proposal at the risk of downgrading the esteem the members of this Union have in the eyes of the public.

Licences of Pharmacies in the community are regulated by means of an agreement set up to include geographic and demographic principles. The system ensures that investors will not simply chose the most attractive and profitable locations for investment in complete disregard of other localities which being small, remote or not representative of affluent sectors of the community would otherwise have to remain either without a pharmacy service or need to cause the government to invest taxpayers money in a state owned pharmacy service. It is absolutely untrue, and a figment of one's imagination, to declare that more pharmacies would mean more competition that would drive down the cost of medicines.  In countries like Iceland, and Norway, the free market was allowed to reign and governments did not impose a system similar to Malta the result has been that pharmacies in the peripheries closed down leaving business to flow to pharmacies in the centres with the resultant hardship to the patients in the suburbs and peripheries, who suffered as a result of their lack of accessibility to medicines.

Incredibly the Medical Association also links unsafe practices to the prices of medicines. This is a rather puerile way of putting forward an argument. There is simply no basis for this assertion.

It is incredible that an association of medical professionals expresses publicly their ignorance of their understanding of the pharmaceutical market in Malta. They have no idea as to how the pharmaceutical supply chain operates and the economics of such a chain and the huge responsibilities of pharmacists, their fellow professionals. Unlike doctors, pharmacies have to earn their professional income from the small and controlled margin that remains after they deduct all expenses of running a modern pharmacy fully equipped to meet current market expectations pay all charges, pay all salaries and all costs of medicines and unlike other professionals all professional pharmacists employed in private pharmacies do not charge a professional fee to patients. Often enough, unfortunately pharmacies in the community have to suffer the illicit competition of medicines sold on the market by medical practitioners who sell medicine to patients which medicine is not in their possession for sale and effecting sale for which they are not licence

In other countries there are situations where both dispensing pharmacists and dispensing doctors operate on the same market and this is especially true in remote rural areas but the reasons for this dual licensing system has nothing whatsoever to do with the arguments presented illogically by MAM is presenting itself as dogmatic and not interested in fruitful dialogue to ensure the best service to patience on the issue of efficient dispensing of medicine in the community. GRTU on the contrary has consistently participated with the Ministry and the Medicine Authority on all proposals that aim at reforming and upgrading the system, however GRTU seeks first and foremost to base its arguments on facts and scientific evidence rather than on emotional and ill-conceived arguments negligent of the real fact

Notwithstanding this uncalled for diatribe by MAM against the professionals who own and manage the Pharmacies in the Community in Malta and Gozo, GRTU on behalf of its members state the professionals managing the pharmacies are more than happy to work with the many  doctors they host, in a meaningful relationship where the patient benefit.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang met today to officially launch negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Singapore. The first round of negotiations have taken place between the 8 – 12 March 2010 in Singapore. The EU-Singapore FTA (EUSFTA) marks a milestone in the EU's longstanding relations with Singapore.

Commissioner Karel De Gucht said: "The proposed free-trade agreement will strengthen economic ties between Singapore and the EU, provide new opportunities for traders and consumers alike, and contribute to generating growth in our economies. For Europe, it will also mark an important stepping-stone in the EU's engagement with the ASEAN region."

Minister Lim added: "The EU is an important economic partner of Singapore. This FTA is a major undertaking and when concluded, will further strengthen the excellent economic relations between Singapore and the EU. Singapore looks forward to working closely with the EU to develop an ambitious agreement that will benefit businesses from both sides."

At the end of their meeting, Minister Lim and Commissioner De Gucht expressed the commitment of both Singapore and the EU to work towards an expeditious conclusion of a high-quality FTA. Both sides also agreed to continue to work closely at the World Trade Organisation, and in particular to advance the conclusion of the Doha Round of negotiations.

Singapore and the EU enjoy close economic ties, which will be boosted by the EUSFTA. The EU is Singapore's largest trading partner and foreign investor. Bilateral trade exceeded € 55 billion in 2008. Conversely, Singapore is the EU's 15th largest trading partner and largest trading partner among ASEAN states. Both sides also enjoy robust bilateral investment ties. Over the years, Singapore and the EU have invested over € 100 billion in each other's economies.

Background

Singapore is one of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The ASEAN countries together are the EU's third largest trading partner outside Europe, with annual bilateral trade in goods and services of some € 175 billion. Almost a third of this trade takes place between the EU and Singapore (€ 55 billion) which makes Singapore by far the EU's most important trading partner in South East Asia. The EU and Singapore also have strong investment ties; the bilateral stock of investment has reached € 100 billion in 2007.

Already today EU companies in many sectors have chosen Singapore as a hub from which to serve the Pacific Rim region, and the FTA would seek to create additional trade and investment opportunities. The ASEAN markets have been identified as priority markets for EU exporters. Last December, EU Member States gave the green light for the Commission to pursue negotiations towards free trade agreements with individual ASEAN countries, beginning with Singapore.

Abigail Mamo –

The GRTU has once again this year participated with its stand at what was the second edition of the Property Expo together with other exhibitors in the sector. It was for GRTU a good opportunity to network with the eighty exhibitors operators in the property industry.

Marcella Agius –

GRTU has been informed of the following communication from the Malta Standards Authority:

Please note that various implementing measures that treat the minimum energy efficiency requirements of various product groups will enter into force later on this year.  These include:

External Power Supplies through regulation 278/2009

High intensity Discharge lamps and fluorescent lamps without integrated ballast through regulation 245/2009

Televisions through regulation 642/2009

Household refrigerators through regulation 643/2009

Also as from 1 September 2010 stage 2 of the requirements on non-directional lamps will start to apply. For more information see – http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/lumen/index_en.htm

More details on these dates may be found at http://www.msa.org.mt/rad/ecodesign/EUP_inforce/EUP%20in%20force.doc

Information on the above regulations may be found at – http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/legislation_en.htm

As regards Energy labelling – the proposals on the energy labelling of televisions and the revamping of the energy label of refrigerators is in a very advanced stage.  The draft regulations may be found at :

http://www.msa.org.mt/rad/ecodesign/EUP_discussed/sound%20and%20vision/Television/

http://www.msa.org.mt/rad/ecodesign/EUP_discussed/commercial%20and%20household%20equipment/refrigerators/

Besides an energy label with a new format these regulations will introduce requirements related with the advertisement and promotional material related to these products.

If more information is required please contact the undersigned Ing. Joseph Micallef

Tel: +(356) 23952221        e-mail:

Abigail Mamo –

The British Consultancy firm Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) appointed by the Government has held the second worshop on Town Centre Management on the 25th February 2010 by providing information and training tools to the stakeholders participating in the seminars for the next months.

The stakeholders present for the seminar were; the Local Councils, the Malta Transport Authority, the Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU), the Valletta Rehabilitation Project. The Gozo Tourism Association, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) among others. The Valletta, Paceville and Masalforn are the three localities for a town centre management project, based on a model tried successfully overseas.

A work shop for the various stakeholders who will be affected by the project was held  earlier on last year and it was launched by Parliamentay Secretary for Tourism Mario de Marco and Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information Dr Chris Said.

The intention for town managers is to strengthen cooperation between local councils, residents and businesses and not to take over Local Councils. Local Councils new responsability now as amended  in the Local Councils Act is to work more closely with the commercial sector with the aim to stimulate the economy, generate employment opportunities and provide a number of services to both residents and visitors.

Tourists Localities have numerous stakeholders who sometimes have diverging interests. The aim for this project will introduce a manager who will be able to take a more holistic view of the situation and  would respond to them collectively.

Carmen Borg –

After intensive lobbying efforts by EuroCommerce DG Trade has decided to launch bilateral trade talks with individual ASEAN countries. Today Trade Commissioner Karl de Gucht has already launched free trade negotiations with the second ASEAN member state (after Singapore): Vietnam.

Vietnam is one of the fastest growing and dynamic economies in ASEAN, with GDP growth at almost 8% during 2003-2008. Even through the global economic downturn in 2009 Vietnam recorded a respectable growth rate of almost 5 %, making the country a highly interesting market for European retailers and wholesalers. Of course we will keep you updated throughout the negotiations.

Abigail Mamo –

The GRTU has received notice of the following meeting and therefore we would like to inform economic operators in the food sector of this important meeting:

Wednesday, 7 April 2010 – 09:00am to 12:00pm – Malta Enterprise, San Gwann, San Gwann Industrial Estate

The following legislations are to be covered in the meeting:

REGULATION (EC) # 1333 of 2008 on Food Additives

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2009/163/EU amending Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs with regard to ‘neotame'

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2009/10/EC amending Directive 2008/84/EC laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners

COMMISSION Directive 2008/100/EC amending Council Directive 90/496/EEC (Maltese Legislation: LN317 of 2009) on nutrition labelling for food stuffs with regard to amending Annex I – Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) #  1170/2009 amending Directive 2002/46/EC and Regulation (EC) # 1925 of 2006 as regards the lists of vitamin and mineral and their forms added to foods including food supplements

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) # 41/2009 concerning the composition and labelling of foodstuffs suitable for people intolerant to Gluten

and further follow-up on the proposed Council Regulation on Food Information to Consumers

Please inform Abigail Mamo @ GRTU of your intentions to attend by 26th March.

Abigail Mamo –

CEN and CENELEC are delighted to announce the launch of the CEN-CENELEC SME Helpdesk, which will provide on-demand advice and information to support European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) on standardization related issues.

The task of the SME Helpdesk will be to introduce European SMEs to the knowledge and business tools required to access the European Standardization System of CEN and CENELEC through:

free information, with links to brochures and presentations;

first-line advice through consultation of appropriate experts via e-mail;

investigation of other support measures, including training and  mentoring to help European SMEs which wish to understand more and contribute to European standardization.

Services provided by the SME Helpdesk are free of charge and are offered either online or by telephone. The SME Helpdesk will respond to enquiries within 5 working days. A dedicated e-mail address has been set up at and a dedicated webpage has been launched: www.cen.eu/go/sme 

The management of the SME Helpdesk is under the responsibility of the CEN-CENELEC Innovation Department, which will ensure coordination with dedicated SME ‘Envoys' at national level tasked with responding to enquiries. The SME Helpdesk will also provide a range of practical training tools in web-based format and training workshops. The creation of the CEN-CENELEC SME Helpdesk is the first outcome of a newly formed CEN-CENELEC SME-Working Group.

About CEN

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is a business facilitator in Europe, removing trade barriers for European industry and consumers. Its mission is to foster the European economy in global trading, the welfare of European citizens, and the environment. Through its services CEN provides a platform for the development of European Standards and other technical specifications. CEN's 31 National Members work together to develop voluntary European Standards (ENs) in various sectors to build a European Internal Market for goods and services and to position Europe in the global economy. By supporting research, and helping disseminate innovation, standards are a powerful tool for economic growth. More than 60.000 technical experts as well as business federations, consumer and other societal interest organizations are involved in the CEN network that reaches over 480 million people.

About CENELEC 

The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization is officially responsible for standardization in the electrotechnical field. In an ever more global economy, CENELEC fosters innovation and competitiveness, making technology available not only to major businesses but also to SMEs through the production of voluntary standards. CENELEC creates market access at the European level but also at the international level through its cooperation agreement with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Through the work of its 31 Members together with its experts, the industry federations and consumers, Electrotechnical European Standards are created in order to help shape the European Internal Market, to encourage technological development, to ensure interoperability and to guarantee the safety and health of consumers and provide environmental protection.

For more information, please contact:
Elisabeth Brodthagen – Unit Manager – Communication CEN-CENELEC
Tel.: + 32 – 2 – 519 6890  –     

Abigail Mamo –