Chamber of Commerce laments 'abuse' in movement of goods

The "rampant abuse" in the free movement of goods with traders going abroad and bringing merchandise into Malta without paying VAT, eco-contribution and excise duty, was highlighted yesterday by Victor Galea, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise.

Speaking during the chamber's annual general meeting, Mr Galea said "this (practice) is hurting our businesses" adding that the chamber has recommended the setting up of a task force, armed with legal executive powers, to ensure effective market surveillance and enforcement.

Referring to the sticky issue of port reform, Mr Galea said that although the chamber appreciated the constraints within which the government and the authorities were operating, it insists that negotiations are concluded by the end of the year in order to reap cheaper costs for the business community, helping to bring about enhanced competitiveness for the country. Turning to the Waste Packaging Directive, he stressed the importance of the chamber's members' awareness of their onerous obligations, including the high recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste.

Products registered with a Mepa-recognised compliance scheme should be fully exempt from the eco-contribution, he added.

With regard to better regulation, Mr Galea noted that although the business community was credited as being the "motor of the economy, we cannot generate productive investment and employment opportunities unless we find encouragement through adequate fiscal tools and the elimination of avoidable costs and bureaucratic harassment.

"While we go through great pains and costs to comply, we often sense that our direct competitors go unpunished despite not being registered with the relevant authorities and, consequently, not complying with their administrative and fiscal responsibilities" said Mr Galea.