GRTU calls for reduced bureaucracy for jewellers

The GRTU has called for measures to reduce bureacracy on jewellers in the wake of a recent EU court decision.

The Chamber said that following a meeting with the Finance Ministry, it would be conducting a study in order to prove that there are excessive charges, impositions and bureaucracy on jewellers.

The GRTU explained that in view of a European Court of Justice decision on the free movement of goods, including precious metals, immediate action was needed so that the Consul would cease the imposition of his hallmarks at will.

"The European Court of Justice held that the requirement of a hallmark consistent with the national legislation is not justified where the information provided by a hallmark struck by an independent body in another Member State is equivalent to that prescribed by the Member State of importation and intelligible to consumers of that State," the GRTU said.

That implied, it said, that imports that were free circulating in other EU countries could not be subjected to further imposition in Malta.

It said that authorised traders should not continue to pay the annual fee of €235 for exercising their right to have their own hallmark.

The excessive overtime charge imposed by customs on all consignments of precious metals arriving by air should be removed.