Over 150 proposed policy measures were received by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) during the first Phase of public consultation on what realistic measures can be implemented to reduce the concentration levels of fine dust in the air.

Over the past years, Malta has found it difficult to comply with EU limit values of particulate matter (PM10), dust particles that are generally less than 10 millionths of a metre in diameter, and invisible to the human eye. Although at times a significant amount of these dust particles originate from natural sources such as sea spray and wind blown dust transported from the Sahara, man-made sources include transport, power generation, construction and small industry.

Given that national monitoring data clearly identifies the transport sector as the major contributor to air pollution mainly from exhaust emissions, tyre and break abrasion and the re-suspension of dust that had previously settled on the roads; MEPA in conjunction with Malta Transport Authority (ADT) have launched a draft plan that specifically proposes traffic measures. This document was issued for public consultation in September by the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications. This plan will form part of the holistic Air Quality Plan for the Maltese Islands.

MEPA is currently finalising a proposed Air Quality Plan for the Maltese Islands, in accordance with the Directive 1999/30/EC, which will outline policy measures to address man-made pollution sources, namely in the sectors of transport, power generation, construction and small industry. This document will also include the MEPA/ADT traffic measures and the suggestions it received from the first phase of the public consultation.

The Authority is publishing a summary of the suggestions that were received during Phase 1 of the public consultation together with the proposed traffic measures that were published at the end of September. These may be viewed on the MEPA website through the following link http://www.mepa.org.mt/air-policymeasures .

MEPA remains totally committed to ensure that the quality of the air we breathe in Malta is clean both for our health and that of our environment. The Authority will continue with its efforts to minimize the impact that human activity constitutes towards the deterioration of the quality of the air through measures that based on sustainable concepts and practices.