Online businesses to have mark of trust

The Investment, Industry and Information Technology Ministry and the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a scheme aimed at giving online consumers security and peace of mind.

The Trustmark scheme will be based on the Euro-Label, which is awarded to online businesses that meet European standards of quality and security. The Euro-Label has been adopted in six member states - Austria, France, Poland, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The ministry said it wanted to boost e-commerce by enhancing trust in online purchasing. It said security-related concerns still inhibit the take-up of online transactions.

The perception that online shopping can be risky, or that the data transmitted during a monetary transaction can be leaked to third parties with the wrong intent, was still very common.

Other concerns expressed by potential online customers related to the genuineness and true representation of the products on display and to the uncertainty over how complaints or returned goods will be handled, the ministry said.

Chamber president Victor Galea said that such an initiative was important to continue promoting e-commerce as an alternative means of doing business.

The Trustmark scheme, he added, was key to instilling a sense of safety and peace of mind for consumers.