Reference is made to an article published in The Malta Independent on Sunday of 27 May on the Fondazzjoni Ideat seminar held on Saturday 26 May, and the reported statement by Dr Jason Bonnici claiming that, “Malta is the only country to have failed the sulphur dioxide test.”

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority would like to point out that this is not the true picture.

With respect to ambient levels of sulphur dioxide, Malta is well within the limit values laid down by Annex XI of Directive 2008/50/EC. Malta’s exceedances of the 350 ug/m3 hourly limit value are below the allowed 24 per calendar year, and exceedances of the 125 ug/m3 daily limit value are below the allowed three per calendar year.

As far as the total national emissions are concerned, Malta achieved the 9Gg ceiling, which had been set during accession negotiations. Actually, in 2010, Malta reported total emissions below this threshold.

This information is publicly available from http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu /mt/eu/nec/envtzorg/ AnnexIV_ Reporting_templates_NEW21_12_11.xls

Peter Gingell

Communications Manager

Malta Environment & Planning Authority