Standards for sustainable development

"Sustainable development can be defined as development that meets the requirements of the present without diminishing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is therefore vital to ensure that the use of environmental-friendly standards are maintained and promoted as these will ultimately lead to a better quality of life for present and future generations".

This was stressed by Minister Censu Galea when launching the Eco-Management and Audit (EMAS) and the ECO-label schemes at a news conference at the Ministry of Competitiveness and Communications yesterday.

The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary scheme, which came into being on May 1, for those industrial or smaller scale entities willing to commit themselves to evaluate and improve their environmental performance.

Mr Galea said: "Following the publication of a legal notice last April, the Malta Standards Authority has been identified as the EU EMAS competent body for Malta and was also provided with €300,000 by the Commission for the provision of training and the setting up of the necessary infrastructure in order to ensure that these schemes are easily accessible".

Launching the other standard, known as the Eco-Label Scheme, Minister Galea underlined that this unique certification scheme aimed at helping European consumers distinguish more environment-friendly products and services (excluding food and medicines).

"This recognised and widespread European standard provides simple and accurate guidance to consumers but at the same time assuring them that those products comply with strict ecological and performance criteria," he said.

Various categories of manufacturers or service providers are eligible to apply for certification, including electronics, white goods, textiles, paints and varnishes, electrical equipment, liquids, paper and, of paramount relevance to Malta, the tourist accommodation service.

The news conference, which was also addressed by Francis Farrugia, chairman of the Malta Standards Authority, also included the presentation of the EMAS certification to ST Microelectronics.

ST is one of the seven companies in the 10 new EU member states which successfully registered and complied with this scheme in Brussels on May 1. "This certification also promotes ST Microelectronics to level ground with other top European organisations, while expressing our hope that other domestic entities will follow suit," Mr Galea said.