Government approval status

• The authority in charge of compliance in Malta is Transport Malta ™ as the Regulating Authority
• Verified Gross Mass regulations will be enforced with effect from the 1st July 2016 but as yet no fines or penalties have been announced as yet for any default.
• There will be various controls to ensure compliance.   No container will be loaded unless the VGM of the container is declared in advance of loading.
• All Shippers who will be adopting Method 2 are required to send their certificate and a copy of their documented procedures to the regulating authority for vetting. Once this has been approved, the shipper will be included in the list referring to the use of method 2 on the Malta Freeport Terminal (MFT) web based portal.
• Gates procedures have been defined for both methods.  M1 requires the presentation of a printed weight certificate in addition to the standard shipping documents whilst M2 requires that a document is presented at the Gate which includes the of the Certified body, the Verified gross mass and the Shipper's contact details. Same report is to be dated and signed.

What to include in your VGM instructions

• The following items are mandatory and must be on all VGM instructions
• Booking or Bill of Lading number
• Container number
• VGM + unit
• Authorized person’s signatory (submitter of the VGM who may be authorized to act on behalf of shippers
• Responsible party Name
• How to submit your VGM instructions
• Fax, emails
• Standard signed shipping instructions

Deadline for sending your VGM

• 24 hours of ETA
• VGM cut-off as may be adjusted on an ad hoc basis.  Shippers to be informed and kept updated.
• Admin fees and costs
• Extra costs, penalties and fines which might be imposed by the local authorities, port and/or  shipping lines for misdeclarations, late submissions or additional amendments may be incurred and will be for account of the Shipper.
• Extra costs for failing to provide timely VGM as per carrier’s VGM cut-off and countries guidelines may be incurred and will be for account of the Shipper.

Recommendations

• Shippers are advised to retain all the VGM related documents within their records whilst copies must be forward to the shipping agent.
• MSC Local agency should be informed in advance about the appointment of 3rd parties to provide the VGM if the Shipper chooses to do so.
  Shippers are recommended to liaise closely with the shipping agent in case of any difficulty in securing a timely VGM.

Contact information

• Customer Help Desk:  shipping@jripard.com

Imports

• Meat and milk and any items thereof from non-EU countries with the exception of limited amounts from Andorra, Croatia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and small amounts of specific products from other nations
• Protected species and products thereof as listed by the CITES (Washington Convention) e.g. ivory, tortoise shell, coral, reptile skin, wood from Amazonian forests

Though the above items are the only ones prohibited, there are a number of goods that are heavily restricted. For more information, see the links below.

Exports

• Meat and milk and any items thereof from non-EU countries with the exception of limited amounts from Andorra, Croatia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and small amounts of specific products from other nations
• Protected species and products thereof as listed by the CITES (Washington Convention) e.g. ivory, tortoise shell, coral, reptile skin, wood from Amazonian forests

For full details of prohibited cargo in Malta please visit the following site:

Import and export regulations

Marsaxlokk (MTMAR) - Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd.