S.L. 549.176 Art. 9Information and reporting.    S.L. 549.39.

(1) An authorised producer responsibility organisation shall submit an annual report to the Authority within four

(4) calendar months of the closing of the preceding year. The annual reports shall contain at least the following information:

(a) list of producers participating in the producer responsibility organisation during the reporting period;

(b) quantities of fishing gear containing plastic placed on the national market by the producers who participate in the producer responsibility organisation, by weight and number of items during the specific reporting period in accordance with the reporting formats which shall be established by the Authority;

(c) details on the information and awareness-raising campaigns financed by the producer responsibility organisation in accordance with regulation 4(6);

(d) any other information as specified by the Authority. (FISHING GEAR CONTAINING PLASTIC)

(2) Without prejudice to commercial and industrial confidentiality, a digital copy of the annual report referred to in sub-

regulation (1) shall be made available in accordance with the Freedom of Access to Information on the Environment Regulations.

(3) An authorised producer responsibility organisation shall use the services of an independent auditor, approved by the Authority. The auditor shall be required to certify that all the information reported to the Authority is in conformity with the obligations of this regulation and is as specified in the authorisation issued by the Authority. Furthermore, an authorised producer responsibility organisation shall ensure that a sound auditing procedure for traceability, monitoring and control is put into place to appraise:

(a) its financial management, including compliance with the requirements established in sub-regulations (6), (7) and

(8) of regulation 4; and

(b) the quality of data collected and reported in accordance with these regulations.

(4) An authorised producer responsibility organisation shall submit the audit report prepared in accordance with sub-regulation (3) together with the annual report referred to in sub-regulation (1).

(5) Without prejudice to preserving the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information in conformity with the relevant legislation, an authorised producer responsibility organisation shall make publicly available information pertaining to:

(a) its ownership and membership; and

(b) the financial contributions paid by its members, per unit sold or per tonne of fishing gear containing plastic placed on the market in Malta.

(6) An authorised producer responsibility organisation shall also submit a half-yearly report to the Authority within three (3) calendar months following the end of that period, which report shall contain at least the information indicated in sub-regulation (1).