The Association of Car Importers called on two authorities and three ministries to stop issuing single vehicle authorisation to imported used commercial cars until the requisites for this authorisation are published.

The 22 companies represented by the association filed a judicial protest yesterday against the Transport Authority, the Standards Authority, the Urban Development and Roads Ministry, the Competitiveness and Communications Ministry and the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry.

In the protest, the association made reference to the practice of allowing used cars to be imported from outside the EU without checking that they conform to the standards imposed on the importers of new vehicles.

The companies claimed this is illegal and in breach of European regulations and principles. They said that every used car imported was being given single vehicle authorisation.

This authorisation should be assigned in extraordinary cases, and not to every car indiscriminately. The association claimed this resulted in market distortion and was discriminating against the importers of new cars.

The companies further lamented that since there is no control over the standard of the used cars being imported, the engines of these cars may be hazardous to the environment and public health.

The association claimed this is causing its members irreparable damage and called on the authorities and the ministries to stop issuing the single vehicle authorisations to commercial imported cars.

The companies also appealed for the authorities concerned to publish the requisites for the authorisation and for EU standards to be imposed on all cars imported into Malta.

The protest was filed by Prof. Ian Refalo.