The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise and the Malta Federation of Industry reminded members that all importers or manufacturers of packaging who place packaging or packaged goods for the first time on the market in Malta are obliged to register with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), using the appropriate forms, by 30 September.

They said that relevant members were not necessarily obliged to register with licensed schemes by the end of September. The law simply obliges producers to submit a duly completed registration form to MEPA.

Members should know that the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC, as amended by Directive 2004/12/EC), and transposed by LN 98 of 2004 and implemented by LN 277 of 2006 into local legislation, implements the Producers Responsibility Principle (PRP) for packaging waste. The legislation covers all packaging (primary, secondary and tertiary) whether it is used or released at industrial, commercial, office, shop, service, household or any other level, regardless of the material used.

The relevant forms can be either obtained from the Waste Management team’s office at the MEPA or by downloading it from the MEPA website on http://www.mepa.org.mt/Environment/index.htm?waste/national_waste_register/packaging.htm&1.

The Chamber and the FOI said members had a legal obligation to keep a copy of the filled-up form and supporting information for four years. MEPA may ask to see the copies during their monitoring process. Further information can also be obtained by sending an email on [email protected] or by calling on tel. 2290 5020.