Month: March 2020

In conjunction with the introduction of the epidemic status in the territory of the Republic of Poland, and the periodic border control which is related to this epidemic status, the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Shipping has undertaken actions to minimise the occurrence of any possible negative effects on the inland navigation industry.

The Ministry has requested the relevant state authorities to exempt the inland waterway vessels from the 14-day quarantine, and to allow inland waterway vessels to cross the border with the Federal Republic of Germany on the Oder. At the same time, the Ministry has started consulting on a program of proposals concerning solutions for the assistance program for Polish inland carriers with the Polish Inland Shipowners Association.

These activities, which have been undertaken by the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Shipping, strive to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain and provide protection for the economic situation of employees and employers in the inland navigation sector.

 

/ADK/

In the first half of March, during the European Union High-level Ministerial Maritime Conference in Opatija (Croatia), another three countries, including Poland, signed the “Torremolinos Declaration”, under which States publicly indicate their determination to ratify the Cape Town Agreement from 2012 by the 10^th anniversary of its adoption, i.e. until October 11, 2022.

The Torremolinos Declaration was opened for signature at IMO’s October 2019 conference in Torremolinos (Spain), and until now, besides Poland, it has been signed by countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Great Britain and China.

The Cape Town Agreement outlines regulations designed to mandatory safety measures for crews of fishing vessels over 24 metres in length and ensures a level playing field for the fishing industry while establishing standards for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over. It covers key parameters such as stability and associated seaworthiness, construction of fishing vessels, machinery and electrical installations, life-saving devices and communication equipment. It also aims to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Although the Agreement was adopted in 2012, it will enter into force 12 months after at least 22 States, with an aggregate 3600 fishing vessels of 24 meters in length and over operating on the high seas have expressed their consent to be bound by it.

Presently, 14 countries have ratified the Cape Town Agreement, including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.

 

/JF/

Since 1 January 2020, the Act of 31 July 2019 amending certain acts to reduce the regulatory burden has been in force. Under the a.m. Act, Article 21a was introduced in the Traders’ Law, which grants entrepreneurs a new right to right to make mistake.

The amendment applies to traders entered in the Central Register and Information on Business Activity who infringe the regulations of law related to their business activity within 12 months from the date of commencement of the business activity for the first time or again after at least 36 months from the date of its last suspension or termination.

Regarding to the amendment, before punishing the trader with a criminal fine or an administrative fine, the authority will call on the entrepreneur to remove the found infringements of the law and possible consequences of such infringements within the time limit set by the authority.

An entrepreneur who removes the infringements and their effects within the specified period will not pay the penalty.

 

/JF/