From this year, motor vehicles undergoing repairs approved by an insurance agency have to choose a repair garage certified by the Malta Standards Authority (MSA) within the Competitiveness and Communications Ministry.

Last year, MSA published a national standard MSA 1400 – Motor Vehicle Repairs – Repairers management system – Requirements, which serves as the basis for the certification.

This is the result of an agreement reached between MSA, Malta Insurance Association (MIA) and the GRTU. The certification process will be carried out by a technical expert and be based on the requirements as expressed in the standard. A Certification Board made up of the three bodies will then decide on the recommendation of the technical expert. A yearly surveillance visit will be carried out to ensure that the level reached is not only maintained but improved.

Those garages which have been approved by the Malta Insurance Association up to October 2006 will retain their status for one year after which they would then have to conform to MSA 1400 to retain their status. This standard was prepared by a technical committee made up of experts representing all the stakeholders, and as with all standards, before it was published it went through a six-week public consultation period.

During the presentation of this certificate to Autosales Ltd (Kind’s) Minister Censu Galea said: “A consistent level of repairs to motor vehicles following accidental damage ensures that vehicles on the road are safe and suitable for use. The need to ensure that a vehicle damaged by accident is rendered the necessary strength and reliability intended by its original manufacturer, ensures that drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike can enjoy a safer journey. This standard outlines the requirements for a repairer wishing to demonstrate a best-practice approach to vehicle repairs and to continuously strive to obtain a high level of repair consistency and customer satisfaction.”

To date, 82 certificates have been issued, including other well-established companies.