Chapter 127 – Sand (Preservation) Act

What is this act about?

This law is about preserving sand by restricting its removal from beaches, sea-shores, or any land without a permit. It aims to control the extraction and movement of sand to protect these natural resources.

Who it applies to: Any person who wishes to remove or carry away sand; The Director of Public Works and the Minister responsible for public works.

At a glance

Country: Malta
Area of law: Environment and agriculture
Articles: 8
Source: legislation.mt
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The removal or carrying away of sand from any beach, sea-shore, or land.
The conditions under which permits for sand removal are granted or refused.
The power of the Minister responsible for public works to create regulations related to sand preservation.
Penalties for offenses related to sand removal and obstruction of enforcement officers.

Who does this act apply to?

Any person who wishes to remove or carry away sand.
The Director of Public Works and the Minister responsible for public works.

What are the key points?

No person shall remove or carry away sand without a written permit from the Director of Public Works.
The Director of Public Works has absolute discretion to refuse a permit or impose conditions, except when sand is from private property, in which case a permit must be granted under necessary conditions.
Penalties for contravening the law include fines ranging from €46.59 to €232.94, and for second or subsequent convictions, imprisonment up to one month.
Vehicles or conveyances used in contravention of this Act shall be forfeited, unless an innocent party has a claim to the property.

Environment and agriculture

Chapter 199 – Agricultural Leases (Reletting) Act

Chapter 448 – Administration of Lands Act

Chapter 479 – Fishing Waters (Designation) and Extended Maritime Jurisdiction Act

Chapter 432 – Reversion of Certain Lands Act

Chapter 435 – Environment Protection Act

Chapter 549 – Environment Protection Act

Chapter 146 – Agriculture and Fishing Industries (Financial Assistance) Act

Chapter 13 – Commercial Code

Environment and agriculture

Legal text

Contents (8)

Art. 1
Art. 2
Art. 3
Art. 4
Art. 5
Art. 6
Art. 7
Art. 8

SAND (PRESERVATION)

CHAPTER 127

SAND (PRESERVATION) ACT To make provision for the preservation of sand. (11th July, 1949)* ACT XVI of 1949, as amended by Ordinance XXV of 1962; Legal Notice 4 of 1963; Acts: XXXI of 1966, and XIII of 1983; and Legal Notice 409 of 2007.

Art. 1

The short title of this Act is the Sand (Preservation) Act.

Short title.

Art. 2

For the purposes of this Act the expression "sand" includes "shingle".

Interpretation.

Art. 3

3.(1) No person shall remove or carry away by any means of conveyance, from any beach or sea-shore or from any land or place, whether publicly or privately owned, any sand without a permit in writing by the Director of Public Works, nor except in accordance with any conditions laid down in the permit.

Restriction on removal of sand.

(2)The Director of Public Works may, in his absolute discretion, refuse the grant of a permit or, in granting such a permit, impose any conditions that in his absolute discretion he deems necessary or expedient.

(3)Such permit shall always be granted when the sand is derived from private property, under the conditions the Director of Public Works deems necessary or expedient.

Art. 4

The Minister responsible for public works may make and, when made, amend, repeal or repeal and re-enact regulations for all or any of the following purposes: (a) for prescribing the form of applications and of permits required under this Act; (b) for prescribing the price payable in respect of sand gained from property owned or administered by the Government of Malta or from any public place and the fees payable in respect of the grant of permits required under this Act; (c) for ensuring proper control with a view to securing compliance with the provisions of this Act; (d) for making provision with regard to any other matter connected with the carrying into effect and enforcement of the provisions of this Act; and (e) for establishing the penalties to which any offender against any of the regulations made under this section shall be liable; provided that any such penalty shall not in any case exceed a fine (multa) of two hundred and thirty-two euro and ninety-four cents (232.94) and, or *See Government Notice No. 456 of l5th July, 1949.

Power of Minister responsible for public works to make regulations.

Amended by:

XXV. 1962.4;

L.N. 4 of 1963;

XXI. 1966;

XIII. 1983.5;

L.N. 409 of 2007.

SAND (PRESERVATION) in the alternative, imprisonment up to one month.

Power of entry and search, etc., given to certain officers.

Art. 5

Any person duly authorized in writing in that behalf by the Director of Public Works and any member of the Police Force shall have power (a) at all reasonable times to enter and inspect any building or other site or premises where he has reason to believe that sand is being stored or kept or is being used or is about to be used; (b) to stop and inspect trucks or other vehicles which he has reason to believe to be carrying sand; (c) to require any person in possession of or carrying sand to give any such information as he deems necessary regarding the acquisition and destination of the sand and to produce for his inspection permits or any other documents, papers or trade-books relating to the acquisition or destination of sand; (d) to seize any such permits, documents, papers or tradebooks and any article connected with or which may be used as evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act:

Provided that for the purposes of paragraph (a) the member of the Police Force shall not be below the rank of inspector.

Sand not covered by permit deemed to be illegally obtained until contrary is proved.

Art. 6

Where sand is found to be in the possession of, or being carried away by, any person, in either case without being covered by a permit or permits issued under this Act, it shall be deemed, until the contrary is satisfactorily proved by the person concerned, that such sand has been removed or carried away in contravention of subsection (1) of section 3 hereof.

General penalty.

Amended by:

XIII. 1983.5;

L.N. 409 of 2007.

Art. 7

7.(1) Any person who acts in contravention of the provisions of subsection (1) of section 3 hereof or who hinders or obstructs the persons mentioned in section 5 hereof in the performance of their duties or who does not comply with any legitimate order or direction given to him by any such person shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall, on conviction, be liable to punishment as follows: (a) on first conviction to a fine (multa) of not less than forty-six euro and fifty-nine cents (46.59) but not exceeding one hundred and sixteen euro and fortyseven cents (116.47); (b) on a second or subsequent conviction to a fine (multa) of not less than one hundred and sixteen euro and forty-seven cents (116.47) but not exceeding two hundred and thirty-two euro and ninety-four cents (232.94) and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month.

(2)Any vehicle or other conveyance, together with any horse or other animal and thing whatsoever of which use has been made or attempted to be made in removing sand in contravention of this SAND (PRESERVATION) Act, shall be forfeited unless some person who has not in any way participated in the offence has a claim to such property.

Art. 8

The provisions of section 37 of the Code of Police Laws shall not apply to sand.

Section 37 of the

Code of Police Laws not applicable to sand.

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.