AN ACT 10 make pr/.wisiom prohibiting misdescriptiOll!i of goodi, sen 'h:es. flccommoilllliOlt find facilities provided in 1111' course of trade: to prollibit false infomtalion or misleading indications as 10 11l~ prict of goods alld for OI11t. nUlller$ conntclt'd there .... ith or ancillary thereto.

1 assent .

(L .S.)

A OAlllA B ARRARA

President

13th June. 1986

ACT NQ. XXII or 1986

AN ACT 10 make pr/.wisiom prohibiting misdescriptiOll!i of goodi,

sen 'h:es. flccommoilllliOlt find facilities provided in 1111' course of

trade: to prollibit false infomtalion or misleading indications as 10 11l~

prict of goods alld for OI11t. nUlller$ conntclt'd there .... ith or ancillary

thereto.

BE IT ENACrED by the i'residcnc . by and with tile advice and

consen t of the House of Reprcsentatives. in th is present Parliament

asse mbled. and by th c authority of th e same. as follows:-

( 1) This Act may be cited as the Trade Ot.-scriptions Act.

1986. (2 ) Thi§ Act shall come inco force on such date as the Minis-

ter responsible for tm<lc may appoint by notice in the Gazette and

di ffe re nt dates may be so appointed for different provisions and

different puflX.lSCS of th c Act.

( I)

I n this Act. unless the context othc""'ise requires -

"advertisement" incl udes a catalogue. a circular and a price

"consumers' organisation" mcans a body of persons rccog

ACI XXtX of t'lll1 nised undc:r the provisions o f the Consumers Protection Act. 1981;

"goods" mean s th ingsoffen:d for sale by way of traJe in Malta;

" Ministcr"' means the Min ister responsible for 1rade;

" pcrson" includes also u body corporate established by law

and a gO\'crnmcnt dcpartmc nc;

"premises" includes any place and any stall or vehicle .

(2) For the purpose of th is Aet. a trade llcscriptiOll or state-

ment published in any newspapt:r. book ofpcriodical _ or in lIn~ film or

sou nd or television broad<;:ast shall not be Ueemcd to be a trade descrip-

lion applied o r SUuemem made in tile rotJl'S<;: of a trade or busi ncss unless

it is o r forms pan of an :Idvenisemem .

( I) Any person who. in the CQur!iC of a trade or business -

, ... ohibn lonof

,.1>< "od<

(a) applies a false n ade des.::riplion 10 :my goods: Or

<l<ocripliorn.

(b) supplies or offers to supply any goods to which a false

trade Uescript ion is applied.

s hall. subjed to the provisioos of lhis Act. be guill yof an offence.

(2) Sections 4 to 8 of Ihis Act shall ha"e effect for the

purposes of this section and fo r the interpre tation of cxp ressiorn; used in

this se<;:tion. whereve r they ecrur in th is Act.

(I) A trade descri ption isan indi ca tion. direct or indirect. and Ttod<

by wha tever mean s given . of any oft he fol lowing ma ll ers with resped to <k>mplion.

any goods or pans of goods. that is to say-

(a) quantit y.sileor gaugc;

(b) method of manufaC"lure. production. prOCl.:$i ng or re-

conditioning

(c) composition

(d) fitne.-.s for purpose. st rength. performance. behaviour or

accuracy;

(e) any physical charactcristics oot included in the prel:t.-ding

paragraphs;

(f) testi ng by any person and results thereof

(8) appro"a l by any person or conformit y wi th a tyl><"'

approved by any person

(h) place or date of manufacture. production. processing or

recond itioning;

(i) pel>On by whom man ufacmrcd. produced. processed or

recon ditio llCd

(j) other history. incl uding previous o" .. nership or use

(k ) guarantee as to repairs or subst itution

(I) expiry da te or shel"e life.

(2) The mal1ers spcdfied in subsection (1) of this section

shall, in rcJ1Llion 10 any animal. be taken to indulle se~. breed or cross,

fCrlility and soundness.

(3) In th is section "quantity" includes length, ,,·idth. height.

area , \·olume. capacity, weight and number.

( I) A false lrudc description is a trade Ocscri ption which is Fah< , ......

false to a material dcgree .

(2) A trade de~ription which. though not false. is mis-

leading, thlll is to say. likely 10 be taken for sueh an indication of any of

the mal1crs specified in section ", of th is Act as wou ld be false to a

material degree. shall be Uecmed to be a false trade description.

(3)

Anyth ing wh ich. though not a trade description is likely

to be taken for an indication o f any of those ma llers and , as such an

indica tion. would be false to a material degree , shall be deemed to be a

fa lse trade deseription.

(4) A false indication. or anyth ing li kely to be taken as an

indicat ion wh ic h would be false. that any goods comply ,,·ith a standard

specifie d or recogniscd by any pc rson or implied by the approva l of any

perwn shall be dee med to be a false tmde description. if there is no such

person o r no standard so specified, reeogni!5ed or implied .

6,

(I)

A person applies a trade dcs.cription to goods if he -

(a) affixes or annexes it to or in Any manner mar ks it o n o r

incorporates it with-

(i) Ihe goods thellls.clves, or

(ii) anything in, onor with whic h the goods are supplied

~

(b) places the goods. in, on or with anyt hing ",·hieh the tractl'

description has bee n affixed or a nnc ~t:d to . mar ked o n or iJJCOr-

por.lled with , or places any such thing wi th the goods; or

(e) uses the trade dc!;cription in any manner li kely to be

taken as referring to the goods.

An ora l slatement may IIIIIOUIII 10 the use o f a trade

(2)

descri ptio n.

(3 ) Wh ere goods arc supplied in pursuance of a request in

which a trade description is used and the circum stan ces are such as to

m~ke it reasonab le to in fe r tha t the goods arc supplied as goods corres-

pond in g to th at trade description. the pe rson supplying the goods sha ll

be deemed to ha\·e a pplied t hat trade descriptio n to th e goods _

( I) The following provisions of this section shall have effect

T""" ~,

where in an advert iseme nt a tmde descri pt ion is used in relation to any

cl ass o f goods.

(2) The trade description shall be taken as referring to all

goods o f the class. whether or 001 in ex islence at the time the ad\"er'

l iseJlJCIII is publ ishcd -

( a) for the pu rpose of determining whether ano ffenct: has

been oomllli u c<i under pa ragraph (a ) ofsl,l~t ion ( I) of seclion J

of th is Act ; and

(b) whe re goods of the class are supplied or- offered 10 be

su pplied by a person publishing o r displaying the ad\'eniscmenl.

also for the purpose of delermining whether an offence has been

co rnmilted unde r paragraph (b) of subsection (I) of the ~id

section J.

(3) In dete rm in ing for Illc purposcs of t his section whethe r

any goods arc of a cia,s to which a trade description used in an adver-

tise ment relates, regard shall be Ilad 110t onl~ to tile form and content of

t he ad\·crtisc me nt but also 10 the time. pl~ce . manner and freq uel1cy of

its publication and all o ther lIIaners ma king it likely or unli kely thal a

person to whom Ihe goods arc supplied 1II"0uld think of the goods as

belongi ng to the class in relation t()which the tmdedescription is used in

the adveniscmcnt .

A person exposing goods for supply or havi ng goods in his Off • • to ... ppIy.

possession fo r suppl y shall be deemed to o ffer to supply them.

Whe re it appears to the Minister -

(a) that it would be in the interest o f persons 10 whom any

goods are supplied; or

(b) th at ;t would be in the interest of persons by whom any

goods are exported and would nOl be con trary to the interest of

persoru; to whom such goods are supplied in Mal ta ;

th at any e xpressions used in relation to the goods should be unde rstood

as having defin ite mea nings. the Min ister may by order assign such

meanings ei ther -

(i) to those expr~ions when used in the course o f a

trade o r bw;i~ as. or as part of. a trade description applied to

the goods; 01"

(ii) to those expressions when so used in such cin:um-

stances as may be specified in the o rder;

and where such a meaning is so assigned to an expression it shall be

deemed for the purposes o f this AMIO ha\'e that meaning when u<;cd as

men ljoned in paragraph (i) or. as the case may be. paragraph. (il) of th is

section.

(1) Where it appears to the Min ister neceSSllry Or expedie nt

in the interest of persons to whom any goods are supplied thalthe goods

shou ld be marked .... ith o r accompanied by any infonnalion ( .... hethe r or

nol amount ing to o r induding a trade description) or instruction relating

10 the goods. the Minister may, subject to the provisions of this Act, by

o rder impose requirements for ~uri ng th at the goods are so mark ed or

accompanied. and regulat e or prohibit the supply of goods with re<>pect

to which the requirements are not complied .... ith; and the requirem ents

may extend to the {o nn alld manner in which the info nn at io n o r instruc·

tion is to be given.

(2) Where an ordcr under this sectio n is in force with respect

to goods of any descript ion. any person who. in th e course of any trade

o r business. supplies or offers to supply good s of that description in

contraven tion of the order shall. subject to the provisions o f this Act, be

guilty o f an offence.

(3) An order unde r this section may make different provision

for diffe ren t ci rcumstances and may , in the case of goods su pplied in

circumstances where the infonnation or instruction requi red by the

order wou ld not be convcyed until after delivery, require the whole or

part thereof to be also displayed near the goods.

11 . (1) Whe re it appears to the Minister necessary or expedient Inloomo,.,. .• , •.

in the interest of persons to whom any goods arc 10 be supplied that any to be ,,"OCR in

description of advcrtisments of the goods .hould contain o r refe r to any """Cn;' .. , .. ~".

infonnation (whether or no t amo unting 10 or incl uding a tradc descrip-

tion) rclating 10 the goods the Minister may. subject 10 the provisions of

thi s Act. by order im pose requirements as to the inclusion of that

information. or of all indication of the means by which it may be

obtained, in such dC5Cri ption of adver!isemenl.'i of the goods as may be

specified in the order.

(2) An order under this ,;eet;on may spc<:ify the form and

manne r in which any such information or indication is to be included in

ad"ertisemcnts of any description and may make different provisions for

different circumstances.

(3) When! an advenis.cmcnt of any goods to be supplied in

the course o f any !mde or businl.'Ss fails to comply with any requirement

imposed under th is section. any person who publishes the ad,'C'nisemC'nt

shall. 5ubjectto the provisions of this Act, be guillY of an offenCC'.

12, A requirement imposed b)' an order under section 10 Of

sect ion 11 of this Act in relation 10 any goods shall not be confincd to

goods manufactured or produced in anyone cou ntry or anyone of a

number ()f countries or to goods manufacTUred or produced outside any

onc or more countries. unless -

(a) it is imposed with respect to a descripliOf\ of goods in the

case of which the Minister is satisfied thatlbe intere$t o f persons in

Malta to whom goods of that dcscription are supplied will be

sufficien tly protected if the req uirement is s.o confined: and

(b) the Ministe r is sat isfied that the order is compatible with

the international obligations of Malta.

Hliega mposta b'ordni tahll-artikolu 10 iew l-artikolu 11 ta ' [);;p<>tl~~j<>nl JOCI

dan I-A ll dwar xi oggen i ma Ikuru: limi tata ghal oggelli fabbrikati jew ",.II_

pmdoui fxi pajjit wiehed jew flti pajjit wie hed fosl numru la' pajJiii 10 u I !.

jew gha l oUelli fabbrika li jew prodolli harra xi pajjii. wiched jew iklar.

kemm-i l darba-

(a) ma Ikuru: imposta dwar des krizzjoni la' o~ctt i fliema

kat il- Mi niSlru jku n sodisfallli J-inleress lal-persuni r Malta li lil-

horn jigu provdoli oggclli la' dik id-deskrizzjoni jkon imharcs

b'mod xicraq jckk il-hlicga tigi hekk limitala ; u

(b) il-MinislTU jkun sodisfatt Ji l-ordni jkon jaqbel ma' I-

obbligi i ntcrnazzjonali la' Malla .

IJ, (I) lekk xi persuna li toffn li tipprovdi oUetli jew servizzi IIMIiUnJOllIJ'"

ta' xi deskrizzjoni laghti. b'xi mezz ikon li jkun, xi indikazzjoni fain q.m.q..lho-2f

fis-sens li I-prczz li bih l-ogge tti jcw is-scrvizzi qed jigu offerti jkun daqs I~P<~U," ' "",,,

jcw inqas minn -

(i) il-prezz 51abbilil mill-fabbrikant, je .... mill -importalur

jew minn xi awtori tla glial dawk I-oUelli jew semui: jew

(ii) il-prezz 1i bih l-oggtlli Jew servizzi. jew oUelli jtW

servwj ta' I-islcss deskrizzjooi kieno qabc:1 offcrti min nha

jew ikun inqas minn da k il-prezz b'am mont spetilikal. Ikun. skond

id-dispotizzjonijict ta' dan I-Att, hatja la' real.

(2) Jckk ~i personali loffri li tipprovdi ~ i o~lIi jcw servizzi

laghti. b'lti men ikun li jkun. xi indik aujoni li x'aktar~ liuiehed bhala

indikazzjoni li l-o~tti je .... li s·se rvi z7.i qed jigo offeni bi prC1.7. inqas

min n dak li liI -fall Qed jigi offeTI tkun , skond id-dispotizzionijict la' dan

I-All. hatja W' reat .

(3) G hall.fini jiet ta - dan I-artikol u iooikazzjoni li l-oggell i

jew scrvizzi ki en u qabel qed jigu offeni hi prezz oghla jew hi prezz

pa rlikolari-

(a) ghandha tilqics bhala indik.azzjoni li gew offerti mill-pe r-

so na li taghti ]·indikazzjoni kemm-il darba ma jigu: espressamc nl

dikjarat li gcw lie kk offcrti minn haddiehor u ma kienx esprcss Jew

mifhum li dawn kicnu o fferti, Jew selgh u gew hekk one rt ;, ukoll

minn dik iI -persuna ; u

(b) ghandha li lqics. kemm-il darba ma jkllnx espress kont -

rarju, bha la indikazzjoni li gew he kk offerti matol is-si ll dlu r la'

qabe l ghal perijodo konti nwo ta' mhux inqas minn tmienja u

ghoxrin jum .

(I) If any person offering 10 supply goods Of services of any

description gives. by what cver mea ns, any false indication to the effect

that the pnCC' at which the goods o r services are offered isequa l toor less

Ihan -

(i) thc price fixed by the manufacturer. or by the

importe r or by any authori ty for such goods or services: or

(H) the price al which the goods or services. or goods or

services of the same description were previously offered by

him

or is less th11n such a price by a specified amount. he shall, subject to the

pro"isions of th is Act, be guilty of an offence.

(2) If any person offering to supply any goods or services

gives. by whalen: r means. an)' indication likely to be taken as an

indication that the goods or services are being offered at a price less than

that at which they are in fact being offered he shall. suhject to the

provisions of this Act , be guilty of an offence.

(3 ) For lhe purposes of this sc:ction an indication that goods

or servioes were previously offered at a higher price or at a pan icular

pr ice-

(a) shall be trea ted as an indic3Iion that they ..... ere sooffcred

by the pc~n giving the indication unless it is expressly slaled that

they were so offered bYOlheTSand it is not expressed or implied that

they wcrc. or might ha~e been. s.o offered also by that person: and

(b) shall be treated. unless the contrary is expressed. as an

indicat ion that they were so offe red within the preceding sill months

for a continuous period of not less t han twen\y-eigh t days.

(I)

If any person. in the course of any trade o r business

gives. by whatever means, any false indication. direct o r indirect , that

-,' OpIC dbyh' Im

..... rd"''PP'''' .. 1. any goods or sc .... ·ices supplied by him or any mct hod S ....

arc of a kind that has bee n awarded any prize or any award. o r are o f a

kind suppl ied 10 or approved by any person or au thority. he shall subject

10 the provisions of this Act . be guilty of an offence.

(2) If any perwn in the ooursc of any trade of busillCM , usc:s

without the proper authority any device or emblem sign ifying any

awa rd. prize or a pproval or anything so nearly resembling such a dev ice

o r emb le m as 10 be li kcly 10 deceive. he shall ~ubjt."Ct to the provisions of

t his Act be guil ty of an offence.

(I) It shall be an offcoce for any person in the oourse of any F.b< Of ....... >dint

trade or bUSiTlCM -

"''<men!> .. 10

... fYi<e>. Ck.

(a) to make a slateme nt wh ich he knows 10 be fa !cse: or

( b) reckkssly to make a Slalement which is false: . 3!i to any of

the fo llowing maners. that is to say -

(i) the provision in the cour.;e of 3ny trode or bu~incM

o f 3ny services. accommoda tion or fsci lit ie$;

(ii) the nature of any services. accommoda tion or facili ·

tics provided in Ihe oourS!: of any trode or business;

(iii) Ihe time al which. manner in which or persons by

whom any services, accommodation or facilities are 5{)

provided;

(iv) the exam ination , approv al or evaluat ion by any

person of any services. accommodl,ti on or f:.cilil ie s SO

provided; or

(v) the locmion or amenities of any accom modation so

provided .

(2)

For the purposes of this sei:liOfl -

(a) an)'lhing (whether or not a Slalelt'lent a~ to any of lhe

malleTS specified in Ihc preccding subse<:tion) likely 10 be taken for

such a statemen t as toanyof those mauers as wQuld be falsc shall be

deemed tQ be a fab;e ~Iatement as tQ thal malle r; and

(b) a sta temen t made regardless o f whether it is true o r false

shall be deemed 10 be made recklessly. whc lher or not the person

mak ing it had rea5(ms for believing Ihal il might be false.

(3) In re lation to any services oonsisting o f o r including lhe

applicat io n of any In:alment Qr process or the carrying 001 of any repa ir,

the maners speci fied in subsection (I) Qf th is sect ion shall be laken to

include Ihe effeel of the Irea tmenl . process or repai r.

(4) In this section " falsc" means false to Q material degree

and "scrvices" does not include anything done under :L con tract of

employ me nt. apprenticeship or ot her simila r oontmet .

Where it appears 10 the Ministcr that it would be in Ihe O"k,; d<tinins

in terest o f PCn;(>flS for whom any services, accommodution or facili ties ",m, to. 1'"'1""'"

ure providcd in the ooursc of any trade or business tha t Imy expressio ns

used with respect the reto should be understood as having defi nite

meanings. t he Ministe r may by order as.~ign such mea nings to those

expreSs ion s whe n uscd as, or as pan of. such sla temen ts as arc men·

tioned in section 15 of this Act wi lh respect 10 those sen'icc$, accom mo-

dat ion or facili ties: and ""here such a meaning is ~ assigncd to an

expression it shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act 10 ha"e that

meani ng ""hen so used.

Where a false Irade dc5criplion is applied 10 any goodsoulsKle

Ma lta and the false indicalion, or one of the false indications, given, or

likely to be taken as given. thereby is an indicalion of the place o f

manufacture. production , processing or reco ndition ing of the goods o r

any part Ihcrof, the goods shall nO' be imported into Malta.

18 . Witholll prejudice to any liabi lity under any other Law. a

person guilty of an offence under this Act , ot he r than an offence: under

section 23 or 24. shall. on conviction. be liab le to a fine (mU/IQ) of nol

less than o ne hundred Maltese lin but OOt exceeding fi,"C hundred

Mall ese liri orlO imprisonmenl fora lerm not exceeding six months or 10

oolh such fi ne and imprisonmen t.

I' . Where the act o r omission constituting an offe nce under this

ACI which has been made o r omi llcd by any person is duc to the act or

default of some other pcrwn. Ihal other person shall be guilty of .he

offence. and a person may be charged wilh and convicted oflhe offence

by virtuc of this section wheth er or not proceedings are laken againsllhe

fi~1 men tioo ed person.

81a hsarn ghal kul] responsabbil t~ taht ~i ligi ohm, persuna

misjuba hatja la' reat tarl! dan I-Atl. barra minn reat 13rn I-a rtikoli 23

jew 24 ta' dan I-At!, tehel meta tim;tab hat ja multa ta' mhu~ inqas minn

min li ra Mahija iida mhuJ( iijed minn hames mitt li ..... Mahija jcw

prigunerija ghal zmien ta' mhu_x izjcd mlnn si n xhur jew di k il-multa u

prigunerija nimkicfI.

1.9. Meta j/hemil jew ommissjoni li jikkoslitwiJUureat tatu dan R,.,i m,nhobbo

I-At! I; jlwnu maghmula jew ommc:ssi minn xi persufla jkunu minhabba ~I ;;' ,. - p<nutU

I-ghemil jew nuqqas ta ' xi pcrsuna ohm, dik il-persuna l-ohra Ikun halja ~

ta r-reat. u persuna tista· tigi akkuiata u misjuba hatja tar-reat bis-satJha

ta' dan l-artikolu sew jekk jittiehdu prote<iimenti kontra I-persuna

l-ewwd imsemmija u sew jekk le.

l O, (I) FkuJl protedimenti ghal reat tu tl! danl-An. u bla hsara U,i i .. to· tb.1 1

ghas-sub:mikolu (2) Ht· dan I-artikolu, tkun difit.a li pcrsu na akkuiala i<"'..rtHlcnl,

tipprova-

(a) Ii I-ghe mil tar-reat ikun minhabba tba ll jcw ghax tkun

qaghdel fuq lagh rif moghli lilha jcw minhabba I-ghc mil jew in·

nuqqas ta' persuna ohm, jew minhabba attident jew xi Ir.:awia ohra

li ma tkuru: lahl il -kontrolltaghha ; u

(b) li tkun hadc: t il·prekaw.>:jonijiet xierqa ko llha u etcrtilal

id-diligenza xierqa kollha biex tevila 1-gtM:mil la' real bhal dak

minnha jew minn kull persuna lahl il-kon troll taghha.

(2) Jekk fxi km1. id-difiza provduta bis-subartikolu la· qabcl

dan timpli ka J·allegalljon i Ji I,ghemil tar-real kien min1labba I·ghem il

jew nuqqas ta' xi pc rsuna 01lra jew li persuna Ikun qaghdet fuq laghrif

mOghti lilha minn persuna Ohr-oI, il·pcrsun3 akkuUla ma jkollhicx jedd

tistrie1l fuq dik id-difita kcmm-il darba minnufih wara li linqara I-akkuia

ma Ikunx innotifikallill·prosekutur b·awit biJ·mik tub li bih jaghli dak

it ·tilghrif u li dilk il·hin ik un fil·pu~ laghha li jidcntifika Jew ighin biex

jiden tifi kalil dik il-persuna 1-o1lra.

(3) F'kull proccdimcnti taht dan I-All gI'IaJ rea t dwar prov-

vista Jew offerta ghal provvista ta· oggelli li ghalihom tigi appli kala

dcskri7.Jtjoni kummertjaU falza tkun difita g1la ll·persuna akkui:a ta !i

tipprova !i ma kenilx taf. u ma SClgttCIX b·diligenza, xierqa lii.gura li

I-oMe tti lOa kienux jaqblu m:td-deskriujoni Jew li d-deskrizzjoni kienet

glc t applikata ghall -oggeui.

21, Fi pTOCedimenti ghat rcat lahl dan I-Anli jkun sar bil-pubbli- I'\IbI>Iiw. ,on!

kazzjoni ta' reklam Ikun diJiia gttaU-persuna akkutata li tip(7To'·a li hi ior\no:4nl;

tkun pcrsuna li x·~oghol tagl'lha hu li tippubblika jcw \aghmclarranga-

me nll gI'Iall-pubblikazzjoni la' reklami u li tkun irtcviel ir·re klam ghall·

pubblika:ajoni fil-kors normali t3X-xog1lol u li ma kenilx laf u li ma

kell ha cbda raguni lissuspella li I-pubhlikazzjoni lit'gh u jkun jammonla

ghu! rc~t t ta lit dan I-All .

22, ( I) Bla hu ra g.I'I as-SClgl'lat u dmirijicl lal·pulilci,ia cte kull iva.

kun uflitjal pubbl iku fid-Oipartimcnllal·Kumme rt aWlorizzal kif imiss

mill·Ministru jisla ', 61·hinijie t kollha xierqa u mal-produu)oni. jekk

mehliega. lal-kredc: n~jali l)cg.l'lU, jcfertita s-sclghat li ~ iji n, j i~ifieri -

(a) hu jism' . sabie x jiigum jekk xi reat t3hl da Jl I·AII ikuID

sar, jispcujono kull oUelli u jidho l rkull post barra minn post utat

b iss ghal abilaujoni

(b) je kk iko llu raguni xierqa jissuspclla Ii reattoh\ dun I-All

ikun sar, hu jista', sabiex ji2gu m jkuID: sar jew le, jirrikjedi li l kull

pcrsuna li Ikun qed tmelUi kummere Jew negozju jcw im pjegal3

rk ummcre Jew negolju li tipprodul'i ku ll kOlba jcw dokumenli

dwar il·kummc rt jcw in'nepju u jisla' jaghmel kopja la' kull ktieb

jew dokumenl bh al da",'k jcw registrazzjonijiel;

(c) je kk ikolJu raguni xierqa jahseb li jkun saT Teal tahl dan

I-All , jism' jaqbad u ;tomm kull oggett samex jitgura b'lestijicl

jew xort'ohra , jckk ikuru saT jew le r-rea t;

(d) ;isla ' jaqbad u ;tomm kuJl~11 jew dokumenl li ;kollu

ragun i jahscb li jislg.I'Iu jkunu mehtiega bhala prova fiI -proted i-

menti ghal reattaht dan I,An;

(e) tlu jisla', sabiex ikuJl jista' jeiercita s-sclghal lieghu 131'11

dan is-suba rtikolu jllqbad o~elli. iida biss jek k u safcj" iku n

b'mod f3goncvoli mehlieg sab iex jiigura li ikunu qed jill'l arsu d -

dispotiujonijiel la' don I-An u ta- ku ll ordn ; maghmul bis~hha

ticgl'lu, jehlieg lil kull pcl'$una li jkollha I-awlorit~ li laghmcl hc kk li

tikser Ir.:ull recipienl jcw tiflal'l kun '-rnding mQCh;n~ u, jelr.:k dik

il -pcrsun a ma taghmilx he kk , hu jista' jaghmel hekk hu nni fsu,

(2) Ufficja l pu bbli ku awtorizza l kif imiss kif illlqal qabel li

jaqbad xi oMe lli jewdokumenti fl-etc rCiuju !as-selgl'lal lieg.l'lU lahl dan

I-arti kol u ghandu jgharraf lil1,persuna li mi nghandha jillqabdu u , fil-kat

la ' 0Uelli maqbuda milln I'mding mut:hin~, lill-pcrsuna li isim ha u

I-indirizz taghha jkunu mnittlin fuq il·makna bhala li hi I -propr~ t arja,

jew jekk lali iscm u indirizz rna ikunux imllitzl ill, lill-okkupallt lal-post

fe jn tlr.:un imqieghda Jew imwahhla I-mll kn a,

(3 ) Umtjalli jidh ol rxi post bis-sahha la' dall I-artiko lu jiSllI'

jichu mieghu lil dawk il-pe rsuni l-ohra ~wtorizza li mill-Min istru u dok

It·tagl'lm ir Ii jidhirlu me ht iega ,

23, Bla hsara gl'l al kull resp(msabbi lt~ ohra lahl din il-Jig; jcw lahl

xi ligi ol'lra. jekk xi peTSuna libeflil xi pe rsulla ohra -

(a ) xi taghrif dwar il·process la ' fabbrikazzjolli Jew sigriet

kummerejali li tiksbu rxi ~I fei ll IkulI dahlel bis~hha la ' dall

I· Att;jew

(b) xi taghri f li li k5cb bis-sahl'la ta' <!an I-All

d in, kemm-i l <!arba I-kxif ma jlr.:ull)l sar fil-qadi taghha Jew la' xi persuno

o l'lra li gha nd ha fu m:jonijie l lal'l t dart I-AIt , tkun hatja ta' real u lel'lel

me ta tirtsab halja multa ta' mhux itjed millll elf lira Maltija jcw prigu -

ncrija ghal imien ta' mhw: illqas mirtn c rbu' xhur iida rntlux itjed minn

scntejn, jcw d ik il -mulla u prigunerija flim kien,

24, Bla I'I sa ra ghal kun respon>Hbbilh\ ohm lal'll dill il-lig; jew 1111'11

xi I igi 0 1'1 ra kull pers una Ii -

(a) ghax trid, I(\xke llil puli~ija jcw lil um~jal pubbli ku waqlli

jkun qed jagiui skond dan I-All; jcw

(b) ghall lriu, lonqos li thares xi ht iega Ii ssirilha b'mod

Icgitt imu taht dan I-All minn xi uffi~ja l bha l dak; jew

(t) minghajr ragun i xierqa lonqos li tag,n i lil dak l-u ffiC jalli

; kun he kk qcd jagix.1ci xi ghajnuna ohra jew taghrif ichor li hu jista'

b'mOO xicraq jirri kjed i minn ghandha ghall-fini tal ~adi tal ·funzjo-

nijic l licghu lahi uan I-An ; jcw

(d) laghli uak it- Iaghr if kif imscmmi riJ -paragrafu la ' qabcl

dan mCla laf Ii j kun fall,

tkun hatja ta' real U tch cl mc t ~ tin""hhatja, multH w· mhux inqas minn

gha ... ar liri Malt in ii.da mhux itjcd minn ham s; n lira Maltin u mcta

I·ghem il jew om missjoni li jikkosl itwiJ<xu r-reat jissokla ghal aktar minn

gumata, il-Qorti ghandha b-ticda limpon i muh a la' mhux anqas minn

ghaxar liri Malt in u mhux aklar minn hamsin li ra Mahija ghal ku ll jurn Ii

fih jissussislu dak I-ghemil Jew dikl -ommissjoni.

25 , MCla xi ogge n i maqbuda jew xor\'ohra miksuba minn uffil:jal

s kond dan I·AII ikun se jsirilhom chmi -

(a) jekk l-oggelli kicllu maqbuda, l,umej111 ghandu jgharraf

lill·persuna li minn ghamlha l-oggclli jkun u gcw maqbuda bir'

ri.tultalla'l-etami ;

(b) jekk '-osgeui jkunu nxtraw u l-el.ami jwassal biex

jinlxlcw protedimenli ghal real lahl daD ' ·AII , l-uffiCjal ghandu

jghanaf lill -persuna minghand min l-oggc n i jkunu nxlraw , jew,

fil- kaZ ta' oggcui mibjughin pennea la' ~' .. ndjn8 maclli"e liII-

pcrsuna mscmmija fis-subaTl ikolu (2 ) la'l-art ikolu 22 la' dan I· AII ,

bir-riiultal t1I'I-ct.am i.

(I) In any prc>c:«dings for an offe nce: under Ihis Act it shall.

s ubjecl to subsection (2 ) of this sect ion. be a ddence for the person

c ha rged to prove -

(a) that the commiss ion of the offence was due to a mistake

or to re lia nce on information supplied 10 him or 10 the acl or dcfault

of ano the r person , a n accident or 50me olhe r ca U:\e beyond his

control ; and

(b) that he look all rea50nable precautions and cllercised all

due diligence to a,"Oid the commission o f sueh an offence by himse lf

o r any person under his con trol.

(2) If in any case the defence provided by the foregoing

subseclion involves the allega tion that the commission of Ihe offence

was due to the act or default of another person or to reliance on

informa tion supplied by another person. the person charged shall nOI.

be entitled to rely on that defence: unless immediately after the reading

out o f the charge he shall h a~e :\er,ed the: prosecutor a notice: in wriling

giving s uch informalion identifying or assisting in the ident ification of

tha t othe r person as was then in his pos.session .

(3) In any proceedings for an offence undcr this Act of

s upplying o r offering to supply goods towhich a rHlse trHucdescnplion is

applied it shall be a defence for the person chargcd to pro\·c Ihat hc did

not know, and could nOI with rea50n able diligence. have ascertained

Ihar the goods did nO! conform to the description or Iha l the description

had been applied to the goods.

In proceedin~ for an offence under this Act committed by Ihe

publication of an ad\"C rlisemc nt it shall be a defe nce for the pe~n

charged to prove that hc is a person whose busincs.~ it is to puhlish or

arrange for the publication of ad\·crtisements and that he received the

advertiseme nt for publicalion in the o rdinary course of business and did

not know and had nO rca50n to suspect that its publication ","Ould

amount to an offence under this Act.

22, ( I) WithoU! prejudice to the powers and dut ies of the exccu· Po ... " toen",

li\'e police, nny public officer in the Department ofTrode duly authoris- i"'l"""

ed by th e Ministe r may, at all reasonable hou rs and on production , if

required, o f his credentials. exe rcise the following po .... ers. that is to say docum<n"_

(a) he may, for the purpose of asoc:crt ain ing .... tlc ther any

offence unck:r this Act has been commiHed , inspect any goods and

e nte r any premises other than premises used only lIS a dwelling;

(b) if he has re350nable cause: to suspect that an offence

unde r this Act has been committed. he may, for lile purpose of

ll.'iCI;:rtai ning .... hether it has been committed, require any pcr50n

carrying on a track: or business or e mployed in connectOn .... ilh a

trade or business 10 produce any books or documenlS relating to th"

trade o r business and may ta ke copies of, Or of any entry in , any

such book o r document;

(c) if he has reasonable cause to believe that an offence onder

thi s Act has bee n co mmitted. he ma)' scize and deta in any goods for

the purpose of asce rtaini ng, by testing or otherwise, .... het he r the

offence has I>cen commi ttcd;

(d) hc may seize and detain any goods or documents .... hich

he has reason IQ believe may be requi red as evidence in proceedings

for an offence unde r thi s Act;

(e) he may, for the purpose of exercising his powers under

this su bseclion to seize !;ClOds. but o nly if and 10 tile extcntthat il is

reasonably necessary in orde r to secure that the provisions of this

Act and of any order made there under arc duly obser.ed. require

any per50n having authority to do so 10 break open any cont ainer or

open any "end ing machine and. iflhat per50n does not comply ""ilh

the requi rement , he may do so him!iC:If,

(2) A publ ic officer duly aut ho rised as afore-.aid seizing any

goods or documems in the exercise of his powers unde r this section sllall

infoml Ille per50n from whom th e)' arc seized and, in the cas.:: of goods

seized from a vending mach ine. the pe rso n .... hose name and address are

stated on the machine as being the proprie tor's or. if no name and

addre ss are so stated, the occupier of the pre mises on which the machine

stands or to which it is affixed.

(3) An officer enteri ng any premises by vinue of this 5CCtion

may 13ke wi th him such other persons authorised by the Min ister and

such eq uipment as may appear to him necessary.

2.3. Without prejudice 10 any othe r laibili l)' under this o r allY Ooo<kIMr,.oI

o lher law, if any person disclo:se$1O a ny person -

(a) an)' infonnalion wilh respect to any manufacturing

proce~ or trade secrct oblained h)' Ilim in pre m i~ which he has

en tered by vi nue of th is Act; or

(b) a ny information obtained hy him in pU Tl;uan<.:e of this

Act .

he shall. unless the disclosure was mode in or for the purpose of ,he

performance by him or any o ther person of functio ns under this Act. be

guilty of an offence and shall. on oon"ietion, be liable 10 a fine ("m/la) of

nOf more than o ne thousand Maltese liri ~ to imprisonmen t for a te rm of

not less than four monlhs bul nol exceeding 1"'0 years. or to both such

fine and im prisonment.

Without prejud ice to any OIhe r 1iabilil)' u1llk:r this or any

other law a ny person who -

(a) wilfullyobs!1UC1S a police officer or a publicoffocc r acting

in pursuance of Ihis Act: or

(b) wil fully fails to comply with any requirement properly

mad e to him by any such officer under this Act: or

(cl without reasonable cause fails to gi"e such an offlCCr so

acting any other assiSla nce o r information wh ich he may reasonably

require of hi m for the purpose of the pe rforrmmcc of his funct ions

under !his Act : or

(d ) gives such information as is mentioned in the last preced·

ing parHgraph which he knows 10 be fa lse,

shall be ,l(uilty of an offence and liable. on oon\·iction. 10 a fine (mll/la) o f

no t less th an ten Mahese liri but nOl c:J(cecdi ng fifty Mah t:$C !iri and

where the act or omis<;ion consti tuting the offence 5ubsist for more than

a day. th e Court 5ha ll in addit ion impose a fine (mll/ta) o f no t less than

ten Ma hesc liri an d not more thl1 n fifty Maltese liri fo r each day in which

such Hct o r omi ss io n subsist.

Where any goodssc izcdorotherwise acq uired by an officcr in

pursuance o f this Act are submitted loa test . then -

(a) if the goods were seized. the officer sh all inroml the

person from whom the goods were seized of Ihe result of the test;

(b) if the goods were purchased and the leSI leads to the

institut ion of proceedings for an offence under this Act. the officer

sha ll inform the pe rson from whom the goods we re pu rchased. ~ .

in the case o f goods sold through a "end ing machine. the person

ment ioned in subsection (2) ohection 22 of th is Act. of the result of

the test.

Th e fact Ihat a Irade dL'SCription is a trade ma rk. or part of a

trad e mark . does not prevent it from being a false lrade descript ion

whe n applied to an )' goods.

( I) For Ihe purposes of this Act goods shall be deem ed to

ha ve been manufactured or produced in Ihe country in which Ihey last

under",ent a Ireatme nt or process resulting in a substan tial change.

(2) The Minister may by order specify -

(a ) in rela lion to an)' desl;ripl ion of goods. wh3t treatment o r

process is to be regarded for the purposc$of Ih is~ction as resul ting

o r not resu lting in a subsl3n lial change;

(b) in re lation to any description of goods. differenl parIS of

which we re ma nufactured or produced in different cou ntries. orof

goods aiSCmb led in a country diffe rent from tha! in which their

parts were manufactured o r produced, in wh ich of those countri cs

the goods are to be regarded for the purp05e5 o f this A CI a~ having

been manufactured or produccd.

( I ) Sections3 and 100f this Act shall not a ppl ~ in .ehltion 10

goods$upplied o r offered to be suppl ied. whether to a participunt 0' un~

olhe r person. in the COU fM' o f a ma rke t fC~Hrdl ex periment to wh ich

th is sect io n applies.

(2) In this section "market research cxperiment" means an ~

activi ties conducted fo r the purpose of ascerlaining the opiniO Il of

persons (in this section referred to as "panicipants") of -

(a) any goods; or

(b) anything in , 011 or with which the goods arc supplied: or

(c) the appearance or any other cha racteristic of the goods o r

of any such thing; o r

(d) the name or dcscriplion under which the goods lire

supplied .

(3 ) This section applies to any market reliCarch expc rime nt

with res pect to which thc following oonditio ns arc satisfied. that is 10

say.-

(a) that any participant to whom any goods arc supplied in

the course of the experiment is informed. al or before the time at

which thcy arc supplied to him. that they are supplied foc such a

purpose: as is mentioned in subsection (2) of th is section, and

(b) th at no OOllsideratioll in money Or mollCY's ",'mth is givell

by a pa.Tlleipant for the goods or any good!; supplied 10 him for

co mpanson.

Crim inal action for offences under this Act. other than L'm .... ..,..'"

offences unde r sections 23 and 24 orlhis Act shall be barred by prescrip- -et.,.., . nd

tion afte r the lapse of one ynr.

(I) Cri minal proceedings for any offence against any pro·

vision of Ihis Act Sha ll be instituted by the Police: ex officio. provided

that in proceedings o the r thall for an offence ullder section 23 or 24 of

this Act . a represe ntati"e of a consume~' organisation. dul y appointed

for the purpose. shall be deem~>d to be an inju red party for the purposes

of the pr()\'isions of subsection (3) of ~etion 422 of the Criminal Code,

and such represe ntat ;"e may assist the prosecut ing officer in such pro-

c.::cdings.

(2) Where the e"idence of such reprcsentati"e is to he given

in any case in '" hich he is to assist the prosecutin g officer. such evidence

shall be gi\'Cn before other evidence. unless the need for his evidence

a ri~ at a later stage of the procN:dings.

(3) Whcre any o ffence under or agaill,t any provisi on oon·

tained in this Act. iscom mill cd by a body corporale established by law

o r by a government dep,lrImcnt. ever)' person who. at the lime o f the

commission of the offence. was cha irman. manager. sccn'ta ry . head or

othe r similar o fficer of the body corporate or de partment. or was pur·

porting to act in any such capaci ty. shall be gui lty of that offe nce unless

he pro\~ tha t he exercised due diligence to pre\'en t the commission of

t~ offence. o r that n(){withst&ndi ng that he e~e[l:ised such di ligence the

offence was commi tted without his knowledge.

(4) Where an offence urtder this Act has been committed by

the pUblication of an advertisemen t. the COlIn may in the judgement

o rder. order in the case of a newspa per orotherWtlilar publica tion. that

in a suhsequen t is.o; ue thereof not late r than the next but one. and in the

ease of a broadcast in g medium wi thin a week immedia tely following th e

day on whi ch the judgemen t is given. the judgement itself or a compre-

he nsive summary thereof be pu blished or broadcast. as the ca.\.e may

requi re. in the same language in wh ich theorrcnce wascommitt ed. at the

expensc _of the offende r; and if at the time of the judgemen t or imme·

dia tely thereafte r the newspaper or o ther similar publication has ceased

pu blica tion or the broadcasting mediu m has ceased to operate. or in the

case of any other printed matter. the Cou rt may in the judgement or in a

subsequent order, order that the summ ary be pu blished at the expense

of the party convicted in another newspape r or 00 anot her mediu m

wit hin a period not exceeding one month.

(5) In default of compliance wi th any orde r referred to in

subsectio n (4) of this section the party convict~-d shall be liable to a fine

(muIIQ) of not Icss than two hurtdred Maltese lin bul not exceeding onc

thousand Maltese li n o r to imprisonment for a tenn not exceeding three

months. or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Passed by the House of Rcpresentati,'CS al Si tt ing No, 352 of the 9th June. 1986.

D ANI EL M ICALUOF

Spetlkcr

C. M IFSUD

Clerk to rh e Ilouu of Repr~nIQti~es

f>I.hfu1tnI b, "" J#j<Nm .. ,.", v. . .,...

~ ","''"

1ppubI>iI ~. ' "'".T .......... coo,T..,...,, _ I( ~;I,.

J', ",m/ or ."" G" ... ·.~, .... '" J ''''''illS p"."

Mul>v&i' H-I"""'''''''}OI,.I·C .. ,.. -