German car-manufacturing plant passes rigorous MSA test

Following these inspections, MSA issued conformity of production certificates which signify that quality levels required by the industry are being met. One such certificate was presented to Opel during an event held at the MSA offices in Valletta.

Parliamentary Secretary Said congratulated MSA for the sterling work being carried out in the field of standards and quality. MSA is considered highly competent and it is held in high esteem both in Malta and abroad. This is why MSA has been called upon by vehicle manufacturers such as Opel, Suzuki, Voyager, Chevrolet Italia and others, to type-approve their models.

In Opel’s case, while the tests on motor-vehicles were carried out by a Maltese registered Technical service, MSA officials inspected the company’s production site in Russelsheim in Germany. There they ensured that the plant, which employs 15,500 workers, meets the necessary levels of conformity of production. The factory inspections were carried out on the new line of Opel vehicles working on LPG.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said spoke of the importance of quality and standardization because of their essential contribution towards developing innovation and competitiveness, two key elements in the EU 2020 strategy. They facilitate access to markets; enable interoperability between new and existing products, services and processes; enhance the protection of users; and give consumers confidence in innovations.

Chris Said stated that certification is crucial for the success of any business, and it also gives added confidence to consumers.

Within the European Union, motor vehicles intended for the carriage of goods or passengers mustcomply with European mandatory technical requirements. It is the established practice of the Member States to check that vehicles comply with the relevant technical requirements before they are placed on the market and registered.

By introducing a harmonized community type-approval procedure for each vehicle type, Member States recognize checks carried out by other Member States. The type-approval procedure enables each Member State to issue type-approval certificates in respect of vehicles which conform to an approved type.

The EC Type Approval authorities of Member States have competence for all aspects of the approval of a type of vehicle, its systems or components. The Malta Standards Authority is the Type Approval Authority for Malta and in accordance with framework Directive 2007/46/EC, the EC approval mark for Malta is e50. MSA issues and withdraws approval certificates. One of its main tasks is designating technical services.  

Under this system, manufacturers can obtain approval for a vehicle type in one Member State if it meets the Community technical requirements, and then market it EU-wide with no need for further tests or checks. Registration must be granted on simple presentation of a valid certificate of conformity. The European-wide motor vehicle type-approval regulations ensure the successful completion of the single market in this important industrial sector.