Stqarrija mill-Ministeru tal-Finanzi u Kummerc dwar il-pakkett offrut lil Malta Dairy Products

1. Filwaqt li l-Ministeru tal-Finanzi u Kummerð ma jixtçqx jintilef fi skambji ta' stqarrijçt æall-medja meta d-dettalji tal-pakkett offrut lill-MDP kçnu diía' ðari u diskussi b'mod apert mar-rappreúentanti tal-MDP jtenni:
   
2. li l-prezz ta' 16c3 æall-konsumatur tal-óalib frisk fil-kartuna tal-pinta kif mitlub mill-MDP kçn ifisser úçda f'daqqa ta' 3c8, jiíifçri 30.4% fuq il-prezz kurrenti tal-óalib fil-flixkun tal-pinta;
3. meta jirriúulta mill-Indiði tal-Prezzijçt li úçda bóal din kçn se jkollha impatt negattiv u qawwi fuq l-ispiúa æall-konsumatur, l-aktar dak bi qlçæ baxx, din ma setæetx tkun milquæa;
4. allura l-Gvern ippropona prezz æall-konsumatur ta' 15c fuq kartuna tal-pinta li kçn proporzjonalment relatat ma' dak fuq kartuna tal-litru;
5. bçx itaffi minn xi effett avvers li dan il-prezz jista' jóalli fuq l-operat tal-MDP, il-Gvern ikkonðeda wkoll
6. li l-prezz tal-óalib bl-essenza fil-kartuna tal-litru jitla' æall-28c. Hawn ta' min ifakkar li l-prezz tal-óalib mhux pasturizzat hu regolat minn 'Price Order' li, sakemm l-MDP unilateralment æollçt il-prezz tal-kartuna tal-litru tal-óalib bl-essenza æal 30c, ma kçnitx taæmel distinzjoni bejn óalib bl-essenza u dak bla essenza;
7. li dan il-prezz ikun jæodd ukoll æall-provvisti li hu jixtri minæand l-MDP æall-konsum fl-iskejjel tçæu (u æal dan ukoll kçn qed jaóseb bçx iúid l-allokazzjoni tal-fondi meótçía);
8. li b'effett immedjat il-Gvern jeúenta lill-MDP mill-ólas annwali ta' Lm100,000 li hi marbuta taæmel lill-Iskema ta' Sussidju fuq ið-Ðanga. Hawn ta' min jæid, li minn 1995 'l hawn, l-MDP óallset din il-kontribuzzjoni darba biss u æalhekkk il-Gvern kçn qed jistenniha taííorna ruóha fil-ólasijçt sa dak in-nhar li jsir il-ftehim;
9. li joæla l-prezz tal-prodotti kollha tal-'yoghurt' b'1c;
10. s-sitwazzjoni kollha tkun riveduta fi úmçn miftçhem miú-úewí naóat, jekk kemm il-darba ikun hemm evidenza dokumentata u verifikata minn awdituri, li l-qaæda finanzjarja tal-MDP kçnet affetwata negattivament mill-prezz ta' 15c fuq il-kartuna tal-pinta.

Il-Ministeru tal-Finanzi u Kummerð, filwaqt li jinnota l-intenzjoni dikjarata tal-MDP li jwaqqaf il-produzzjoni tal-óalib fil-'units' tal-pinta, u dan æad-detriment tal-konsumatur bi qlçæ baxx, ifakkar li l-biúa' tal-Kumpanija fuq xi konsegwenzi ulterjuri óúçna fuq l-operat finanzjarju taæha ma jibqax lok æalih u parallelament ma jibqax lok æal konðessjonijçt offruti lill-MDP. B'konsegwenza il-Gvern jirtira l-offerta li hu æamel fil-pakkett tçæu lill-MDP.

While the Ministry of Finance and Commerce does not feel it should indulge in an exchange of press releases when all the details offered in a package to MDP were unequivocally clear and were widely debated with representatives of the Company, it wishes to reiterate

(a) that the consumer price of 16c3 for fresh milk in 1 pint carton requested by MDP involved a sudden increase of 3c8, i.e. a 30.4% increase over the current price in 1 pint bottles;

(b) that, when from the Retail Price Index it results that such an increase would affect adversely consumer expenditure, particularly those for the lower income group, this increase could not be entertained;

(c) therefore, Government proposed a new consumer price of 15c for 1 pint carton which was proportionately related to the price for the 1 litre carton;

(d) that, in order to dilute the adverse effects of this price on the financial operations of MDP, Government conceded further that:

i) the consumer price for flavoured milk in 1 litre carton would go up to 28c. It should be noted here that MDP had unilaterally increased the price for this commodity to 30c in breach of the relative Price Order which did not distinguish then between flavoured and non-flavoured milk;

ii) that this price was also applicable for supplies to State Schools. The Ministry was here making arrangements to provide the necessary funds to the proper channels;

iii) that, with immediate effect, Government would exempt MDP from its annual contribution of Lm100,000 attached to the Scheme for Subsidy on Beef. It should be further noted, here, that since 1995, MDP failed, except for once, to make such contributions and, therefore, Government was expecting it to bring its dues up to date before the agreement;

iv) that the price of all yoghurt products will be increased by 1c;

v) that it would revisit the whole arrangement within an agreed time, if audited documentary evidence is produced by MDP to show that the price of 15c on the 1 pint carton had a negative impact on its financial situation.

The Ministry of Finance and Commerce, while noting the stated intention of MDP to stop the production of milk in 1 pint units, which would be detrimental to the lower income consumer, observes that consequently there will be no place for MDP's present fears of a negative impact arising from the proposed price of 15c for 1 pint carton and, as a result there will be no place for the implementation of Government's concessions in the package to MDP. As a consequence, Government withdraws its proposals and concessions made to MDP on this issue.