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Sustainability - Malta

Updated 02/2011

Legal requirements

Malta's Environment protection Act 2001 lays down the legal provisions enabling businesses to take sustainability further and do business responsibly.

There are no additional requirements for foreign companies compared to local ones when it comes to complying with environmental legislation.

Most environmental legislation in Malta derives from the transposition of European Union directives in the form of Legal Notices (secondary legislation).  The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), the local authority responsible for environmental and planning affairs in Malta, includes on its website a comprehensive list of all environmental legislation and also indicates which EU Directives, if applicable, they derive from.

Some of the main legislation applicable to SMEs and industry are the following:

Voluntary sustainable development initiatives by businesses are mainly encouraged by the Malta Standards Authority (MSA) and Malta Enterprise.

National Policy for Sustainability

In 2002, the Government set up a National Commission for Sustainable Development (NCSD). The NCSD's main roles are:

In 2009, the Government launched the three important policy documents, detailing Malta's policies and strategies related to sustainability:

National policy regarding sustainable development is coordinated by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs.

Standards

The competent authority in Malta for Quality Management Standards and Environmental Management Systems is the Malta Standards Authority (MSA).

The competent authority in Malta for occupational safety management standards (OHSAS 18001) is the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA).

The law requires businesses to comply with minimum social and environmental rules.

Administrative procedures

Certification of standards

It is the policy of the MSA Certification to provide its clients with a value-for-money and competent certification service without discrimination, whilst ensuring confidentiality and impartiality.

The certification services shall fulfil the requirements of the relevant National and International standards in particular MSA EN ISO/IEC 17021:2006 and their relevant guidelines.

Quality management standards

The Malta Standards Authority (MSA) Certification service relates to the international standard for the Quality Management System ISO 9001:2000. Applications should be sent either by fax, e-mail or post to the MSA.

Environmental management standards

The MSA is the national competent body for various schemes related to the environment including: EMAS (Eco-management and audit scheme) and the European eco-label scheme.

Occupational safety management standards

The competent authority in Malta for occupational safety management standards (OHSAS 18001) is the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA).

The OHSA offers assistance with any request for workplace health, safety and welfare.  They can be contacted by filling in a complaints form.

Resources

The MEPA provides businesses with all relevant information on national environmental legislation and the EU directives from which it is transposed. The site also provides a full list of downloadable planning application forms.

Programmes

The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) regulates and supervises credit and financial institutions, and investment, trust and insurance businesses, it also houses Malta's Companies Registry. It encourages high standards of compliance and runs a consumer affairs unit.

To help Maltese SMEs in their bid for funding from the EU's seventh framework programme for research and innovation (FP7), and the competitiveness and innovation framework programme (CIP), the Government has set up an Exploratory Award.

Malta Enterprise also administers part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), allocated to Malta to support industry in various areas, including Environmental performance (beyond compliance) and energy efficiency.

In Malta there are two recognised compliance schemes under producer responsibility legislation (packaging and packaging waste / electrical waste and electronic equipment):

For those with more general queries, a Business Advisory Service scheme exists to help SMEs tap into the expertise of professionals in a variety of areas, including energy optimisation, waste management and waste water treatment.

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

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Enterprise Europe Network - Contact points

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local contact points. 

Choose your nearest contact point for personalized help and advice:

Further help

Malta Enterprise provides support for companies with the aim of helping them improve environmental performance and reduce energy consumption.

The Department of Industrial and Employment Relations within the Ministry for Social Policy protects the interests of parties in employment contracts, actively promoting a healthy employment relationship in a spirit of social partnership, while contributing towards stable industrial relations.

The Foundation for Human Resources Development (FHRD) aims to raise the profile of the Human Resources profession in Malta by assisting and supporting individuals and entities in the private and public sectors, to engage in and sustain the best human resource management and development practices.

The OHSA organises courses related to occupational heath and safety.

MEPA can provide customised guidance to companies.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry provides help and assistance to business owners.

The national contact points for the EU programmes most closely related to environmental performance are the Malta council for science & technology and Malta investment management company Ltd.