Regulations, 2023

L.N. 115 of 2023

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT

(CAP. 439)

Owning and Keeping of Dangerous Animals (Amendment)

Regulations, 2023

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by articles 7(2), 8(1) and

20(1) of the Animal Welfare Act, the Minister responsible for

veterinary services has made the following regulations:-

The title of these regulations is the Owning and Keeping of

Dangerous Animals (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 and these

regulations shall be read and construed as one with the Owning and

Keeping of Dangerous Animals Regulations, hereinafter referred to as

"the principal regulations".

Immediately after regulation 10 of the principal regulations

there shall be added the following new regulation

Animals listed in Schedule B may be

"Exceptions where

dangerous animals

used for cinematic performances as props or extras

may enter the

country.

in the territory of Malta as long as

(a) the animals enter the country in

accordance with article 23 of the Act;

(b) all dangerous animals which are

performing during filming shall be identified

by a permanent means of identification, or as

deemed most appropriate by the Director;

(c) these animals may enter the

country only for a temporary period of time, as

necessary for the shooting of the film which in

any case may not be longer than three (3)

months.

(d) each dangerous animal entering the

country must be accompanied by a natural

person who shall be the contact point and the

responsible person for those animals. He shall

also be considered the keeper of these animals;

(e) the animals entering the country

shall be in good health and fit to travel

Provided that they shall also be in

conformity with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of

9 March 2016 on transmissible animal

diseases and amending and repealing certain

acts in the area of animal health ("Animal

Health Law");

(f) any animal who dies during its stay

in Malta, shall be disposed of in accordance

with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the

European Parliament and of the Council of 21

October 2009 laying down health rules as

regards animal by-products and derived

products not intended for human consumption

and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002

(Animal by-products Regulation);

(g) if any animal gives birth to

offspring during its stay in Malta, the offspring

shall return to the country of origin of the

animal which gave birth to them and shall not

remain in the territory of Malta;

(h) the site where the animal shall be

housed shall be approved prior to its entry into

Malta and this housing shall be in line with the

minimum standards for that species;

(i) any animal which is being utilised

for filming may exit the approved housing of

that animal and be kept in a more confined

mobile enclosure for transport of the said

animal to the filming set. Only the appointed

handler or keeper of that animal may

accompany it;

(j) an application shall be submitted to

the Veterinary Services before the intended

entry into the country of the animal. Approval

may be granted only subject to the provisions

specified in the Act and the Veterinary

Services Act;

(k) the Veterinary Services Directorate

may establish other conditions which shall be

deemed necessary before these animals are

brought into Malta;

B

(l) all persons who shall be in contact

with the dangerous animals during the filming

shall be made aware of the dangers that these

animals may pose to them. This refers to the

physical danger which may be posed by these

animals, as well as the possibility of

transmission of certain infectious diseases;

(m) it is necessary that on the film set

there is a weapon or a tool that may stop that

animal if it were to turn ferocious, become

uncontrollable or a threat to any human in the

vicinity. Therefore there shall be a handler

capable of managing the weapon or tool. The

killing of the animal may be warranted under

those circumstances.".

€0.27