Chamber welcomes 'overdue' exemptions

The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise has welcomed the publication of application forms for eco-contribution exemptions.

“The publication of the forms is now expected to pave the way to a smooth exemptions procedure for eligible companies which, in the process, have had to pay their eco-contributions despite the existence of a legal notice that rendered them exempt because they had been disposing of their packaging waste responsibly and in line with the law,” chamber president Helga Ellul said.

This long overdue step, she said, followed relentless representations with the authorities and regular contributions in the media.

Such public pronouncements were deemed necessary because while the legal framework for such exemptions was in place, the necessary forms and remainder of the procedural arrangements were not.

Mrs Ellul explained that, the start of the exemptions process was positive on more than one level.

Giving an example, she said it would contribute to better fairness in the market. This was because bona-fide companies had to absorb the double cost associated with packaging waste whereas their competitors managed to evade their obligations because there was practically no enforcement of the two relevant laws.

Besides, being more competitive, eligible companies would also benefit in terms of their cash-flows.

On the environment level, this development would give a renewed impetus for companies to join a waste packaging scheme – in line with their legal obligations.

This, in turn, would assist the country in a more efficient disposal of packaging waste through more efficient usage of packaging and better separation at source.

The chamber said that for the eco-contribution story to be concluded, companies who made double payments of eco-contribution and waste management scheme charges between 2005 and 2010 were due a refund.

“The Malta Chamber also expects this issue to now be resolved without delay in order to ensure long overdue justice to companies that operate in full compliance of the law,” Mrs Ellul concluded.