The F.O.I., in collaboration with the Malta Standards Authority (MSA), organised an information meeting for its members operating in the manufacturing of consumer goods at its premises last week.

The meeting, chaired by FOI vice-president Joe Pace and addressed by Ing. Anthony Camilleri, head of the MSA Consumer and Industrial Goods Directorate, and Ing. Joseph Micallef from the same MSA directorate, discussed the current situation, as well as the scenario should an EU proposal to abolish national and Community rules on pre-packed products' nominal quantities be implemented.

Following an extended impact assessment, the EU Commission is proposing to abolish rules determining sizes in which consumer products can be sold, with the exception of the wine, spirits, soluble coffee and white sugar sectors.

This proposal is mainly the result of consumer products having been sold in quantities determined by national or Community laws dating from the 1970s, with the legal framework for consumer protection since then having developed significantly and demography having changed significantly, while at the same time new consumer products were being placed on the market that do not fit into traditional product categories.

At the meeting, which was open particularly to manufacturers of detergents, food and beverages, cleaning products, paints. and cosmetic products, it was stated that a general reduction of sizes was seen by local operators as a positive step in view of enabling them to develop niche markets for their products.

This initiative would enable market demand to determine the size of packaging required and it was hoped that promotional packs of products would now be less restricted as to which countries they could be offered. Aspects like CE marking, as well as the treatment of wines and spirits under this proposal, were also discussed during the meeting.

FOI members wishing more information on this EU proposal, are to contact FOI executive Cecilia Vella on tel: 2122-2074, 2123-4428, or e-mail cecilia.vella@foi.org.mt.

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