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Julian Manduca
While a high finance ministry official told MaltaToday consumers could claim refunds on eco-taxes paid at the higher rates, the Consumers Association said this was not possible.
The President of the association, Mr Benny Borg Bonello was speaking to MaltaToday after this newspaper was told by a high-up finance ministry official that consumers could claim refunds on products purchased in the first weeks of this year if they were charged the higher eco-contribution rates.
Several eco-contribution rates were removed or reduced this week following protests from the constituted bodies, and MaltaToday was told that should people have bought a computer keyboard, for example, and paid Lm1 eco-contribution they would be entitled to it back provided a receipt was presented. The changes to the eco-contribution announced this week are all retroactive to 1 January 2005.
Borg Bonello contradicted what the finance ministry official has said, explaining to MaltaToday: “I am sorry to say that no possibilities exist. This already happened when eco-tax was introduced. We had complaints from consumers who had to pay eco-tax at the time of purchase which was two weeks after this tax was introduced. The eco-tax had to be introduced on new stocks. Since we had a suspicion that these consumers paid the tax on old stocks we wrote to the VAT department giving them the receipts etc.
“However, the VAT department only informed us that they would investigate. We asked about the results of the investigation but were given none on the pretext that the information is confidential. As such we could not confirm our suspicions. Needless to say we contested the VAT decision but to date we still haven't the information necessary to be able to insist for redress if there was an abuse.”
Speaking to MaltaToday this week the Consumers Association said it is disgusted with the way it has been treated in connection with the introduction of the eco-contribution.
Borg Bonello told MaltaToday “We were not consulted. We feel disgusted as this is not the first time that happened.”
Borg Bonello’s ire about non-consultation was even greater because he sees this as a trend: “To mention two instances we were not consulted when the price of bread was increased. We have still not been consulted even though it was announced that the price of bread was to be liberalised and we issued a press statement giving our opinion and also suggestions.
“Another case in point was when the cigarette controversy was at its height. The Ministry of Health consulted the business sector but not the Consumers' Association. In that issue we were only consulted by the Malta Standards Authority when the standards were being worked out.
“At the national level the same situation persists for in spite that there is a Civil Society sub-Committee as part of the structure of the MCESD, we, together with the other groups, are rarely consulted and have been asking for this sub-committee to meet for months.”
Borg Bonello contrasts the attitude of the Malta government with that of the EU: “As I said we feel disgusted because nowadays we can compare. We are constantly being consulted by the European Commission on all issues related to consumer affairs. We are inundated by requests from the Commission, so much so, that in spite that they cover the cost of travel and accommodation we are unable to attend most of the meetings as we are a voluntary organisation.
“It seems that the whole concept of (Malta government) consultation with the stakeholders including the Civil Society is totally absent.”
Questions put by this newspaper to the finance minister to seek clarification on the issue remained unanswered up until the time of going to press.
julian@newsworksltd.com
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