Imported Eggs (Marking) Act

IMPORTED EGGS (MARKING) [CAP. 75. 1 CHAPTER 75 IMPORTED EGGS (MARKING) ACT To regulate the marking of imported eggs. (15th August, 1933)* Enacted by ACT XXX of 1933, as amended by Legal Notice 4 of 1963; and Act XIII of 1983. Short title. l. This Act may be cited as the Imported Eggs (Marking) Act. Marking of imported eggs. 2. (1) It shall not be lawful to import into Malta hen or duck eggs, in shell, which have not been previously marked with the name of the country of origin in accordance with and for the purposes of this Act and any regulations made thereunder. (2) Such mark shall be legibly impressed in indelible ink in capital Roman letters not less than two millimetres in height. Sale of imported eggs not bearing indication of origin. 3. It shall not be lawful for any person to sell, expose or keep for sale, or supply by way of compensation to any person in his service under a contractual obligation, hen or duck eggs, in shell, imported from abroad, which are not marked as provided in the last preceding section or the mark whereof is obliterated, wholly in part. Power of Minister to make regulations. Amended by: L.N. 4 of 1963. 4. (1) The Minister responsible for customs may make, vary or revoke regulations for the execution of this Act. (2) Such regulations shall be published in the Government Gazette and, unless otherwise provided, shall come into force two weeks after such publication. Controlling officers. 5. (1) The control of imported eggs is entrusted to the officers of the customs and to the Inspectors of Agriculture who shall have the powers conferred upon them by this Act and by any regulation made thereunder. (2) Such control may, with the like powers, be also entrusted to the Sanitary Inspectors as well as to Police officers not below the rank of sub-inspector. Powers of controlling officers. 6. (1) The officers referred to in the last preceding section shall have power to enter any premises used in connection with the trading in and the storage of eggs. (2) The said officers shall also have power to take, at their choice, for the purpose of examination and analysis, samples of suspected eggs, in such manner and subject to such conditions as shall be prescribed by regulations and, if needs be, to impound or seize such eggs. (3) It shall also be lawful for the said officers to require the *See original section 10 of Act, which section has been omitted under the Malta Statute Law Revision Ordinance, 1936, and the Statute Law Revision Act, 1980. 2 CAP. 75.] IMPORTED EGGS (MARKING) production of any commercial documents relating to any eggs to which this Act or any regulation made thereunder applies. Duty of importers, etc. 7. It shall be the duty of every importer, master of a vessel, consignee, vendor or other person having in his possession or otherwise interested in any eggs to which this Act applies, to furnish, if so required by any of the said officers, all particulars sending to establish the ownership, origin and destination of any suspected eggs or of any eggs not conforming to the provisions of this Act or of any regulations made thereunder. Exemptions. Amended by: L.N. 4 of 1963. 8. The Minister responsible for customs may exempt from the provisions of this Act or of any regulations made thereunder the importation of and the trading in fertile eggs of improved breeds intended for incubation. Offences and penalties. Amended by: XIII. 1983.5 9. (1) If any person shall import or attempt to import into Malta or shall sell, expose, keep or offer for sale or otherwise deal in, or supply to any person in his service under a contractual obligation, any eggs not duly marked as provided in section 2, or shall obstruct or refuse to permit the inspection, verification or the taking of samples, or shall refuse to give any information or to produce any document required by the controlling officers or shall otherwise commit any breach of the provisions of this Act or of any regulations made under and in pursuance of this Act, he shall be liable to a fine (multa) from one lira to twenty liri. (2) In the case of a second or subsequent offence within two years from the previous offence, the offender shall, in addition to the pecuniary punishment, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month. (3) In all cases, it shall be lawful for the court to order the goods in relation to which the offence has been committed, to be forfeited.