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3 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2013 Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Roderick Galdes said there was no need to check milk involved in the production of gbejniet because all animals concerned are tested twice a year Government seeking EU compromise on gbejniet JAMES DEBONO THE Maltese government is seeking to exempt small producers of gbejniet (cheeslets made from goat's milk) from EU regulations requiring the testing of milk used for manufacturing cheese. "We are at present still discussing this situation with the commission to find a possible compromise with the European Commission," a spokesperson for Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes told MaltaToday. An audit by the EU Commission's Food and Veterinary Office recently revealed that no samples of raw milk are collected and checked for bacteria counts in any of the sheep and goat holdings which produce gbejniet. The Parliamentary Secretariat for Agriculture insists that there is no need for the testing of the milk, because all the animals concerned are tested twice a year for brucellosis. Malta has been free of brucellosis since 2006. The secretariat also describes the production in each of these holdings as "minimal". Malta currently has 900 remaining small farms with 10 or fewer milking ewes or goats and producing gbejniet in small quantities. There are 290 farms having more than 10 milking ewes or goats. In fact what the government is seeking from the commission is derogation for small units with "limited marketing and distribution only within local areas". The FVO report states that only one large farm with a gbejniet production facility has requested approval to allow trade with other member states. The FVO's audit states that despite the guarantees provided in response to recommendations made in 2010, only one approved dairy establishment was checked for total bacteria count (TBC). The TBC results seen during the audit conformed to regulations and Asylum seekers unable to challenge prolonged period of detention – UNHCR MATTHEW VELLA THE United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has told the Maltese government that its reception of asylum seekers and systematic administrative detention policy is not in conformity with international law standards, and the relatively high numbers of asylum seekers that Malta continues to receive does not absolve the state from its responsibilities. UNHCR said it would shortly submit to the Maltese authorities a set of concrete proposals for various improvements to the asylum system, taking into account not only the international and European law framework, but also the practical reality of Malta's capacities, infrastructure and context. The majority of asylum seekers in Malta are subject to prolonged periods in detention without access to adequate avenues to challenge effectively the decision to detain. There is also no general mechanism in place to consider alternative or less coercive measures in individual cases at the time of the decision to detain. The position paper finds that the bail system, the only statutory alternative available, is neither effective nor generally accessible to asylum seekers arriving in an irregular manner. "In these circumstances, it is UNHCR's position that the mandatory and automatic detention of all asylum seekers who arrive in an irregular YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt manner, for the purposes of removal, is unlawful and arbitrary." UNHCR said that alternatives to detention are an effective means of balancing the rights of asylum seekers with the efficient management of the reception system. "We're ready to contribute to any form of review of the current system and provide support in exploring potential adjustments which can lead to a better response towards the arrival of asylum seekers, in line with international and European law standards," UNHCR said. The position paper on the detention of asylum seekers points to issues that must be addressed to bring Malta's reception system fully in line with the 1951 Refugee Convention and other international and regional human rights instruments. The 33-page document gives a detailed analysis of Malta's laws and policy on detention, and is the result of extensive legal research and analysis, based in part on UNHCR's own observations as regards the reception system in Malta. "UNHCR appreciates the ongoing cooperation with the Maltese authorities, which facilitates the agency's mandated functions, including through regular visits to detention centres and joint activities as regards training and other support. "UNHCR is well aware that the Maltese government is faced with a challenging situation. But the fact that Malta continues to receive relatively high numbers of asylum seekers does not absolve fundamental state responsibilities in this regard," the agency said. UNHCR also reminded the Maltese government that under international human rights and refugee law, as well as Maltese refugee law, asylum seekers cannot be deported or expelled until such time as there has been a final decision on their claims and a determination that they are not in need of international protection. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt were well below EU limits. In January, government officials informed the FVO that these establishments would be registered, but a proposed national derogation has been presented to the commission and the other member states to exempt them from other EU regulations. This has not been approved. In May the government informed the FVO that Malta "endeavours to regularise this issue as soon as discussions with the commission are concluded". Malta has fourthlowest EU unemployment rate THE euro area's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 12% in August 2013 – stable compared to July. The unemployment rate within the EU28 was 10.9%, also stable compared to July. According to the EU statistical office, Eurostat, rates have risen in both zones, in comparison to August 2012. In the case of Malta, with the unemployment rate reaching 6.4% during August, it ranked the fourth lowest in the European Union. Malta's unemployment rate last year was 6.3%. Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.9%), Germany (5.2%) and Luxembourg (5.8%). The highest were recorded in Greece (27.9%) and Spain (26.2%). This August, 26.595 million men and women were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 19.178 million were in the euro area.

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