The production and placing of milk on the market in Malta : a legal perspective and assessment

Abstract

This Research Project will analyse how the situation in Malta regarding the placing of milk on the market was prior to Malta’s membership to the EU. EU membership brought about significant changes in the Maltese milking industry. Therefore, the research project will then focus on the national legal framework in place in Malta after transposing EU Directives and applying EU Regulations to Maltese law. The research project will delve into the technical and legal aspects of the laws in Malta, and the effects these laws had on local stakeholders, mainly the Maltese farmer and the food business operators of the milk sector in Malta. This will be done by looking at the rights and obligations that the law puts on the local stakeholders, and by analysing the different legal aspects involved in this sector, mainly enforcement actions, protection of public health, and the free movement of goods and services. The milk sector in Malta was transformed radically since the Maltese accession to the EU. Before EU membership, the Maltese position in this sector was lacking and no proper enforcement was in place. Public health was not well protected and only the worst quality milk was prohibited from being sold. Moreover, there was a total monopoly over the milk sector. This situation changed with the introduction of EU laws in Malta and now Malta is at the same level of high protection of public health with all the other EU Member States. Today, there is adequate enforcement and competition laws in place to ensure that consumers are well protected.