In the last two decades, Malta has proven to be an excellent hub for various renowned pharmaceutical companies which have set up here. Pharmaceutical productions have been on a steady incline on the Maltese Islands since the 1980’s move from focusing on manufacturing to specialised markets such as ICT, pharma and financial services.
With Malta being an established EU member state since May 2004, the stable economic, industrial and political environment, tax and financial advantages, excellent language skills and a productive labour force have all proven to be an attractive incentives package for any pharmaceutical company's evaluation of Malta as an ideal location.
Malta vaunts strategic set ups of renowned pharmaceutical companies such as Actavis, Arrow Pharm, Siegfried Generics, Medichem, Combino, Pharm, Baxter and Cardinal Health. Being an export-oriented economy has also ensured that such pharmaceutical companies benefit from a well geared up and avante-garde infrastructure, hence ensuring that pharmaceuticals exports grow steadily. The Malta pharmaceutical industry is a prominent example of the international investment momentum taking hold in the country. It is an industry that already employs over 1000 people, and exports more than €150M ($205M) in products per year—to Europe, and even beyond. “Most notably,” Alan Camilleri, chairman of Malta Enterprise comments, “Malta is experiencing significant expansions of current operators, and this is a sign of confidence in the local environment.”
Pharmaceutical companies setting up in Malta also benefit from other advantages, including:
- a robust patent legislation dating back to 1960s.
- a relitavely small number of domestic patents registered herein
- clearly articulated Bolar provisions fully incorporated in Malta's legislation
- established local suppliers of fine chemicals, plastic, carton, blister packaging;
- expert laboratory and other support services
- inward processing relief on non-EC goods for re-packed/re-assembled exports.
All this has also resulted in a large number of generic pharmaceutical companies setting up here.
It is also very important to emphasise that the growth of the pharma industry in Malta has also been safeguarded by the government's larger plans and policies for this sector. For the last 10 years, the Government has taken the initiative to ensure that the supporting infrastructure for pharmaceutical companies develops in tandem. This can be also seen in the fact that from tertiary level downwards, the educational system is adapting to the needs of the expanding sector. This, coupled with the fact that the English language is Malta‘s second official language has ensured that local Maltese personnel are more than capable of easily handling scientific document writing and laboratory reports to the standards required by the industry.
Chetcuti Cauchi has vast experience advising pharmaceutical companies marking Malta as their base for production. Our intellectual property department is also very well versed in advising clients in the protection of patents, trademarks and designs, including patent validations and European trademark applications. Its dedicated team keeps abreast of the changing legal horizon and uses specialised knowledge to help right-holders plan and implement registrations for new types or newly eligible products and to adapt to changes affecting their portfolio.