The adoption of a National Action Plan (NAP) for the sustainable use of pesticides for Malta is an obligation of all Member States, set out under the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament. The Directive is transposed into national legislation by Legal Notice 489 of 2011 of the Laws of Malta.
The NAP, which is required to undergo review at least every five years, describes how the measures pursuant to the obligations of the transposed Directive are to be implemented to support the sustainable use of pesticides in Malta. The NAP lists objectives and measures to reduce risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment whilst encouraging the development and introduction of integrated pest management and alternative techniques to reduce the dependency on the use of pesticides.
The proposed reviewed NAP for the sustainable use of pesticides covering the period 2019-2023, expands on the framework of the former NAP to improve the previously set objectives and measures to achieve a better outcome. It takes account of the social, economic and environmental impacts of the previous actions, in addition to the health of the public, with the main aim to generate an efficient tool to support the sustainable use of pesticides in Malta.
The reviewed NAP consists of 6 main area objectives:
Training, Information and Awareness-raising
Controls on Pesticide Application Equipment
Controls on Handling, Storage and Disposal of Plant Protection Products
Controls on the use of Plant Protection Products in Specified Areas
Integrated Pest Management and alternate low pesticide input pest management strategies
Risk Indicators and Data Gathering
Contributions and feedback from interested parties may be sent by email or in writing to:
Attn. Regulatory Affairs Directorate
Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority Mizzi House, National Road, Blata l-Bajda ĦMR9010, Malta
Closing date for feedback on the consultation has been extended until 24th March 2019.
The revised National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of pesticides in Malta covering the period 2019 – 2023 has been published on the MEAE's page in both English & Maltese.
Public consultation concerning the application for the protection of the product name “Ġbejna” as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Published 15th February 2019
It is hereby being notified that an application for the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) as defined by EU Regulation no. 1151 of 2012 on Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs was received by the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA). The relevant details of the dossier and further information is given below:
Applicant: Xirka Produtturi Nagħaġ u Moġħoż
for the following terms (in italics):‘Ġbejna’; (plural =‘Ġbejniet’) for PDO status in theClass 1.3. Cheeses
Brief description of the product to which the terms above apply:
The‘Ġbejna’is a fresh cheese produced with whole raw milk from sheep of the ‘Maltese’ breed and its crosses, and that are registered in the Maltese archipelago islands, including Malta, Gozo and Comino.
The‘Ġbejna’can be sold fresh(‘Ġbejna friska’), air-dried(‘Ġbejna niexfa’)or pickled and peppered(‘Ġbejna tal-bżar’).
The MCCAA is hereby publishing the said application for consultation. Any interested party may object to the application in writing by means of a formal letter addressed to the Director General, Technical Regulations Division, stating also the nature of their interest, within two months from the date of this notice. Any objections received after the end of the said period of two months will not be considered.
