FAOLEX Database

Malta - Country Profiles

Constitution of Malta.
Date of text: 21 September 1964

Policies

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to 2030.
Date of text: 01 September 2024
Gender Equality Plan 2022-2027.
Date of text: 2022
Gender Equality and Mainstreaming Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2027.
Date of text: 2022
Malta Low Carbon Development Strategy.
Date of text: 01 October 2021
A Strategy and Action Plan for the Prevention and Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance in Malta (2020-2028).
Date of text: 2020

Legislation

Agricultural and rural development

ACT No. XXXIII of 2023
Date of text: 17 October 2023
Fertile Soil (Preservation) Act.
Date of original text: 01 August 1973 (1983)
Producers Organisation Act, 2002 (Act No. IX of 2002).
Date of text: 28 June 2002
Agricultural and Fishing Industries (Financial Assistance) Act (No. II of 1956).
Date of text: 17 January 1956
Farm Advisory Services Regulations, 2019 (L.N. 99 of 2019).
Date of text: 2019

Climate change

Act No. XVI of 2024. Climate Action Act, 2024.
Date of text: 10 May 2024
Act No. XXXVI of 2020 – An Act to amend the Climate Action Act, Cap. 543, and to provide for other matters dealing with them or ancillary thereto.
Date of text: 2020
Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from fuel regulations (S.L.423.48).
Date of text: 24 December 2010

Cultivated plants

Plant Quarantine Act (Act No. XVIII of 2001).
Date of original text: 01 September 2001 (01 October 2019)
Pesticides Control Act (No. XI of 2001 / Chapter 430).
Date of original text: 01 August 2001 (2011)
Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilisation Regulations, 2016 (L.N. 379 of 2016).
Date of text: 2016
Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulations.
Date of original text: 26 November 2011 (2019)
Wine Act, 2001 (Act No. XXII of 2001).
Date of text: 23 October 2001

Environment

Environment Protection Act. [CAP. 549].To make provision for the protection of the environment and for the establishment of an authority with powers to that effect and for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto.
Date of original text: 31 January 2016 (10 May 2024)
Clean Air Act, XVIII of 1967.
Date of original text: 21 March 1968 (1990)
Waste Regulations, 2011 [S.L.549.63].
Date of original text: 01 June 2011 (14 February 2023)
Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2017 [S.L.549.46].
Date of original text: 21 April 2017 (2020)
Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage Regulations (S.L.549.97).
Date of original text: 21 August 2015 (2021)

Fisheries and aquaculture

Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, 2001 (No. II of 2001).
Date of original text: 16 January 2001 (2014)
Fishing Waters (Designation) and Extended Maritime Jurisdiction Act (Act No. X of 2005).
Date of text: 26 July 2005
Producers Organisation Act, 2002 (Act No. IX of 2002).
Date of text: 28 June 2002
Agricultural and Fishing Industries (Financial Assistance) Act (No. II of 1956).
Date of text: 17 January 1956
Aquaculture Operations Regulations, 2017 (L.N. 157 of 2017).
Date of text: 2017

Food and nutrition

Food Safety Act, 2002 (Act No. XIV of 2002).
Date of text: 19 July 2002
Act n. XV of 2025 – Food Safety and Security Authority Act, 2025.
Date of text: 10 June 2025
Product Safety Act (No. V of 2001).
Date of text: 09 February 2001
Food, Drugs and Drinking Water Act.
Date of original text: 29 September 1972 (19 July 2002)
Imported Eggs (Marking) Act.
Date of original text: 15 August 1933 (1983)

Forestry

Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Licensing Scheme Regulations, 2015 (L.N. 115 of 2015).
Date of text: 2015
Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations, 2015 (L.N. 79 of 2015).
Date of text: 2015
Forest Reproductive Material Regulations, 2004 (L.N. 273 of 2004).
Date of text: 2004
Trees and Woodlands (Protection) Regulations, 2001 (L.N. No. 12 of 2001).
Date of text: 2001
Trees and Woodlands Protection Regulations, 2018 (L.N. 258 of 2018).
Date of text: 31 July 2018

Land and soil

Development Planning Act.
Date of original text: 04 April 2016 (2020)
Fertile Soil (Preservation) Act.
Date of original text: 01 August 1973 (1983)
Government Lands Act 2017.
Date of text: 2017
Act V of 2016: Environment and Planning Review Tribunal Act.
Date of text: 04 April 2016
Administration of Lands Act (Act No. XI of 2002).
Date of text: 12 July 2002

Livestock

Animal Welfare Act, 2001 (Act No. XXV of 2001).
Date of text: 11 December 2001
Veterinary Services Act (No. XXIII of 2001).
Date of text: 09 November 2001
Animal Food and Feeding Stuffs Act.
Date of original text: 1965 (1990)
Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilisation Regulations, 2016 (L.N. 379 of 2016).
Date of text: 2016
Swine Rearing and Keeping Rules, 2017 (L.N. 223 of 2017).
Date of text: 2017

Mineral resources and energy

Act No. XXV of 2015 - Regulator for Energy and Water Services Act, 2015.
Date of original text: 31 July 2015 (23 July 2021)
Petroleum (Production) Act.
Date of original text: 08 March 1958 (1983)
Basic Safety Standards for Ionising Radiation Regulations, 2018 (L.N. 210 of 2018).
Date of text: 2018
Promotion of Energy from Renewable Sources Regulations, 2021 (L.N. 503 of 2021).
Date of text: 28 December 2021
Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass Fuels (Sustainability Criteria) Regulations, 2021 (L.N. 505 of 2021).
Date of text: 28 December 2021

Sea

Marine Pollution (Prevention and Control) Act.
Date of original text: 1977 (1995)
Merchant Shipping Act.
Date of original text: 06 April 1973 (2002)
Continental Shelf Act (Act No. XXVIII of 2014).
Date of text: 08 August 2014
Fishing Waters (Designation) and Extended Maritime Jurisdiction Act (Act No. X of 2005).
Date of text: 26 July 2005
Oil Pollution (Liability and Compensation) Act.
Date of original text: 17 December 1999 (2003)

Water

Water Policy Framework Regulations (S.L.549.100).
Date of original text: 2015 (2024)
Act No. XXV of 2015 - Regulator for Energy and Water Services Act, 2015.
Date of original text: 31 July 2015 (23 July 2021)
Water Services Corporation Act.
Date of original text: 20 January 1992 (2000)
Pollution Caused by Certain Dangerous Substances Discharged into the Aquatic Environment Regulations (L.N. No. 213 of 2001).
Date of text: 2001
Notification of Groundwater Sources Regulations, 2008 (L.N. 255 of 2008).
Date of text: 2008

Wild species and ecosystems

Cultural Heritage Act (Act No. VI of 2002).
Date of text: 03 May 2002
Environment Protection Act. [CAP. 549].To make provision for the protection of the environment and for the establishment of an authority with powers to that effect and for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto.
Date of original text: 31 January 2016 (10 May 2024)
Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations, 2006 [S.L.549.44].
Date of original text: 2006 (12 July 2019)
Sustainable Development Act.
Date of text: 10 July 2012
Environment Protection Act (Repeal) Notice, 2010 (L.N. 513 of 2010).
Date of text: 2010

Miscellaneous

Co-operative Societies Act (Act No. XXX of 2001).
Date of text: 27 December 2001
Patents and Designs Act.
Date of original text: 2000 (2003)
Public Health Act, 2003.
Date of text: 21 October 2003
Permanent Commission against Corruption Act.
Date of original text: 04 October 1988 (2020)
Act No. III of 2016
Date of text: 15 January 2016

International Agreements

AGREEMENT between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Sovereign Military Hospitalier Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta.
Date of text: 05 April 2018
Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean.
Date of text: 21 January 2008
Protocol on cooperation in preventing pollution from ships and, in cases of emergency, combating pollution in the Mediterranean Sea (Prevention and Emergency Protocol).
Date of text: 25 January 2002

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