Electronic equipment importers will take the government to court over their request to be exempt from paying eco-contribution while being expected to form part of a scheme to comply with a European waste directive.
The government is refusing to let go of the €8 million it rakes in from the eco-contribution on these products. It expects the importers to pay more for joining a scheme to comply with their environmental obligations.
Importers have warned the government that passing on this expense to consumers would mean increasing the prices of these products.
Importers of white and brown goods are obliged, through a European directive that was transposed into Maltese law in 2007, to collect at least 65 per cent of the 12,000 to 14,000 tons of equipment they place on the market for recycling – around 9,000 tons.
According to Joe Attard, an official of the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU), Malta risks having infringement proceedings filed against it due to its failure to meet its obligations under EU directives, despite repeated calls by the business community to establish correct mechanisms to make compliance possible.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Mr Attard said importers of electrical and electronic goods are tired of waiting for exemption.
“Businesses are paying the eco-contribution to comply with their environmental obligations and the issue should stop there.
€8 million
The total revenue of eco-contribution from electronic equipment
“But they are being asked to pay the eco-contribution and, on top of that, pay for self-compliance or to form part of an authorised scheme. This is nonsensical,” he said.
The government is requesting a double payment: one for eco-contribution and another for the recovery, dismantling, treatment and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
“This is not acceptable and will never be acceptable. We will stand our ground.”
Mr Attard said the matter was raised during a recent meeting between Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, special delegate Simon Busuttil and the GRTU executive.
In a subsequent meeting with the permanent secretaries from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Resources Ministry, the GRTU was told the government could not lose the €8 million income.
He said they argued there was no way to exempt businesses from paying the eco-contribution so that they could comply with their legal obligation.
Mr Attard said: “The GRTU will not take this any longer. The matter will be taken up directly with the European Commission so as to protect importers from any negative impact of any infringement proceedings.”
He said the GRTU will file a judicial protest in the coming days “to see if there was any political will to solve this issue or if this environmental issue will come second or third on the national agenda”.
The government could not be contacted yesterday.