News

June

14 June 2013 - Public Consultation on draft Regulations providing for the power to waive or reduce the applicable fine in cartel investigations

The Office for Competition is launching a public consultation on the draft regulations providing for the power to waive or reduce the applicable fine in cartel investigations and invites all interested stakeholders and the general public to submit their views. The draft regulations in Maltese and English, together with a background note may be accessed by CLICKING HERE. Comments should be sent to the Office for Competition in writing by 9th August 2013 on the following email address: timothy.farrugia@mccaa.org.mt or at the following postal address:

May 

31 May 2013 - Seminar 'Buying with Confidence'

20 May 2013 - World Metrology Day

May 20 is World Metrology Day, commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. This treaty provides the basis for a coherent measurement system worldwide.

The theme chosen for 2013 is Measurements in daily life. In the course of a typical day it is surprising how often measurements come into play, whether (among many possible examples) checking the time, purchasing food or produce, filling up a vehicle with fuel, or undergoing a blood pressure check.

These, and countless other activities in daily life, require measurements of one sort or another. Yet accurate measurements are taken for granted nowadays. Not surprisingly, most people are unaware that in the background there is a worldwide community specializing in metrology, the science of measurements, making sure it all works. Everybody depends on this community doing its job, and doing it well.

Across the world, national metrology institutes continually advance measurement science by developing and validating new measurement techniques at whatever level of sophistication is needed. They also participate in comparisons coordinated by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) to ensure the reliability of measurement results worldwide.

Many measuring instruments are controlled by law or are subject to regulatory control, for example the scales used to weigh goods in a shop, instruments to measure environmental pollution, or meters used to bill energy. The International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) develops international Recommendations, the aim of which is to align and harmonize requirements for these types of instruments worldwide.

World Metrology Day recognizes and celebrates the contribution of all the people that work in intergovernmental and national organizations throughout the year on behalf of all.

16 May 2013 - RAPEX Annual Report 2012

The new RAPEX Annual Report from the European Commission for 2012 was published today. In its introduction, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy Tonio Borg in the introduction remarks that since its creation in 2004, the RAPEX system has been instrumental in protecting European consumers’ health and safety. It has provided the necessary platform for the essential exchange of information on dangerous products between Member State authorities and the European Commission. If in 2011 there was a decrease in the total number of RAPEX notifications, 2012 marks the return of an upward curve. This increase may be accredited to the increased circulation of dangerous products, or, more hopefully, to the tireless determination of the Member State authorities and the Commission to remain vigilant and proactive in the protection of consumer safety.

The increase in notifications may also be attributed to the improved and updated IT system for RAPEX, which better facilitates the work of the authorities in the Member States and the Commission. This year has seen significant updates to the RAPEX system and we continue to strive to improve both the efficiency and the visibility of results through effective follow-up action and communication. The full report can be found at

http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/safety/rapex/docs/2012_rapex_report_en.pdf

April

17th April 2013 - Report on SMEST Workshop held in Malta on 8th April 2013

8th April 2013 - SMEST Workshop in Malta

5th April 2013 - Seminar 'Ghal aktar protezzjoni tal-Konsumatur' 

1st April 2013 - Another organization certified by MCCAA against MSA EN ISO 9001

The latest organization to be certified by MCCAA against MSA EN ISO 9001 is Foilplus Self Adhesive Labels Ltd of address KW 18, Corradino Industrial Estate, Paola, Malta and website http://www.foilplus.com.mt 

For further information about the MCCAA certification services, kindly click here

March

14 March 2013 - Towards a Europe-wide database of accidents and injuries

A broad coalition of European organisations (including CEN and CENELEC) has come together to call on the European Commission to propose setting up a Pan-European Accident and Injury Data System. They are convinced that such a system would contribute to fewer accidents and injuries. Moreover, the cost of creating such a system would be more than offset by reductions in health care costs.

Roughly 5.7 million people are admitted to hospital annually as a result of injuries sustained in accidents. 34 million others are treated as outpatients.

41 million injuries per year is not only an extraordinarily high number but also contribute to significant healthcare costs (estimated at €78 billion each year ). 73% of such accidents occur at home or while engaged in leisure, including sports.

Aiming to reduce the number of preventable injuries and also healthcare costs, European business groups, consumer organisations, standardisation bodies and safety promoters together urge the European Commission to establish an EU-wide accident and injury data system.

To mark the 15th annual European Consumer Day, 28 organisations have joined forces to stress the need to tackle the current disorder of data collection. There is a clear need for a system that allows data to be more easily compared acrossEurope.

Trailing more than 30 years behind a proven and successful US-system, an adequately funded single European database would prompt significant decreases in the costs associated with the medical treatment of injuries.  

Such a European injury and accident database would require a representative sample of emergency centres to record the cause of such accidents. Using this resource, national authorities would then pool and share the data into a European system, helping manufacturers to adapt their products, providing a basis for public awareness-raising campaigns, assisting legislators and surveillance authorities and standardisers to make more informed risk assessment decisions and developing better product standards.

The Joint Call for a Pan-European Accident and Injury Data System is an initiative of ANEC, BEUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, CEN, CENELEC, EuroCommerce, EuroSafe and Orgalime. This initiative is also supported by ACFSE, AGE Platform Europe, CAPIEL, CECAPI, CECED, ECSA, EFLM, EGMF, ELA, ENPC, ESF, ESTES, ETUI, EuPHA, Euralarm, FENA, FSEU, ILSE, PROSAFE and TIE.

The Joint Call was formally presented this morning (14 March) to Tonio Borg, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, at the European Consumer Day Conference inBrussels, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee.

Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC, said: "A truly comprehensive pan-European database of accidents and injuries would provide valuable information for those who are developing and revising European standards in relation to all kinds of products. It would enable our experts to identify and assess specific risks associated with particular types of products, and then look for ways to eliminate or minimise these risks. The result should be better standards leading to safer products, which also means fewer accidents and injuries."

February

26 February 2013 - Imnedija Ufficjalment il-Kampanja Pubblicitarja ta' l-Awtorita' ta' Malta ghall-Kompetizzjoni u ghall-Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur

January

30 January 2013 - EU Public Consultation - Review of the internal market legislation for industrial products

The EU Diretorate-General Enterprise and Industry has just launched a public consultation on the internal market for products.

This public consultation explores issues related to the identification and elimination of remaining barriers to the internal market for industrial products, in particular for products not subject to Union harmonisation rules. It also aims at identifying specific problems associated with the bulk of harmonisation legislation for industrial products and its application as well as the potential for simplification. These issues relate for instance to CE marking and conformity assessment.

The link to the web page of this consultation:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=6375&lang=en&title=Review%2Dof%2Dthe%2Dinternal%2Dmarket%2Dlegislation%2Dfor%2Dindustrial%2Dproducts

30 January 2013 - Unit Pricing

The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) is currently carrying out an information campaign about unit pricing as established by the Government Notices No. 46 and 47, published in the Government Gazette dated 15th January 2013. These notices stipulate that retail outlets with an area of less than 200 square metres and goods with a content of less than 50 grams or 50 millilitres are being exempted from displaying the unit price and only have to indicate the products' final selling price. MCCAA officers are currently visiting retail outlets to inform them about these notices that will come into force on 1st March 2013. For further information one may contact the Authority on tel. no. 2395 2000 or send an email at info@mccaa.org.mt

30 ta' Jannar 2013 - Prezz ta' l-Unita' 

Bhalissa l-Awtorità ta' Malta ghall-Kompetizzjoni u ghall-Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur (MCCAA) ghaddejja b’kampanja ta’ informazzjoni dwar il-prezz tal-unita’ ta’ kejl kif stabbilit permezz tal-Avvizi tal-Gvern Nri. 46 u 47 li dehru fil-Gazzetta tal-Gvern tal-15 ta’ Jannar 2013. Permezz ta’ dawn l-Avvizi il-hwienet bl-imnut b’daqs ta’ inqas minn200 metru kwadru u oggetti b’kontenut ta’ inqas minn 50 gramma jew 50 millilitru qeghdin jigu ezentati milli juru l-prezz tal-unità u juru biss il-prezz tal-oggett. L-Ufficjali ta’ din l-Awtorità qeghdin iduru l-hwienet bl-imnut biex jinfurmaw lis-sidien dwar dawn l-Avvizi li sejrin jidhlu fis-sehh mill- 1 ta’ Marzu. Ghal iktar informazzjoni wiehed jista’ jcempel lill-Awtorita’ fuq in-numru 23952000 jew permezz ta’ email info@mccaa.org.mt

29 January 2013 - The Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) certified by MCCAA against MSA EN ISO 9001

The Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) is the latest organization to be certified by MCCAA against MSA EN ISO 9001. The presentations of the certificate was made by Hon. Dr. Jason Azzopardi on behalf of the Authority in the presence of Hon. Dr. Joseph Cassar, Minister for Health, the Elderly and Community Care, and MCCAA Chairman, Ing. Francis E. Farrugia.

24 January 2013 -  MCA rolls out comparison website for telecom tariffs

Which internet plan should I subscribe to for my home? Should I opt for a communications services bundle? Which smartphone is best for me? Do I need a tablet with internet access after all? What are the best rates at which to make calls when overseas?

These are some of the questions most of us ask when deciding which communication services we need or afford. But the wide choice is often confusing.

A recent initiative by the Malta Communications Authority aims to make it far simpler for us to find what’s available on the market and help us make our choices in terms of services and pricing, through a free tool at www.telecosts.com.

“The number of different tariff plans and bundled offers has grown significantly over the past years as a direct result of increased competition. Consumers may struggle to identify the tariff plan or offer that would benefit them the most, particularly in view of the multi-player environment that has evolved,” an MCA representative explained.

“From our experience, we have seen that many consumers have remained on the same tariff since subscribing to their service. Such consumers may potentially be missing out on more advantageous offers. We also feel that it is a tool that will contribute to enhanced competition by driving service providers to strive to have their tariff plans and offers topping the lists.”

The website provides comparison on fixed-line, mobile, broadband and bundled tariff plans by different Maltese service providers in one place. The system will initially invite you to provide some basic information on how you use the service, such as, in the case of mobile telephony approximate duration of your calls, approximate number of monthly text messages sent, the time of the day you mostly use your phone, and so on.

Based on these choices, the system will provide information on the tariff plans that provide the nearest match to you parameters.

The information provided on this website is updated regularly as it is managed directly by the service provider themselves. It is therefore in the service providers’ interest to ensure that the information is updated with the most recent tariff plans and offers. (The Times, 24th January 2013)

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