Chamber of Commerce welcomes ‘long overdue’ publication of eco-contribution exemption forms

The Chamber insisted in a statement issued early this afternoon that this “long overdue step” came only after “continuous representations” directly with the authorities and regular contributions in the media with recent strongly-worded media releases.

These public pronouncements were deemed necessary “because whilst the legal framework for such exemptions was in place, the necessary forms and remainder of the procedural arrangements were not, the Malta Chamber lamented.

The Chamber explained how the start of the exemptions’ process was positive “on more than one level”. 

Firstly, it would contribute to “better fairness” in the market. “This is because bona-fide companies have had to absorb the double cost associated with packaging waste whereas their competitors managed to evade their obligations because there was and is practically no enforcement of the two relevant laws,” the Malta Chamber warned.   Eligible companies would, according to the Chamber, also “benefit in terms of their cash-flows”.

On the environment level, the Chamber explained how this development would give “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 MCCEI added.

However, the conclusion of the eco-contribution saga required the completion of “one final chapter.

“This relates to the refunds that eligible companies are due for double payments of eco-contribution and waste management scheme charges made in the 2005-2010 period,” the Chamber insisted.

“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,” Malta Chamber President Helga Ellul explained.

On the refund of double-payments, she expressed its hope that “this issue would now be resolved without delay” in order to ensure “long overdue justice to companies that operate in full compliance of the law”.