Chapter 143 – Imported Store Cattle (Weighing) Act
What is this act about?
This law, called the Imported Store Cattle (Weighing) Act, was created to establish the fair weight of store cattle when they are imported.
Who it applies to: Importers of store cattle into Malta; Any person involved in the sale or disposal of imported store cattle.
At a glance
- Country
- Malta
- Area of law
- Criminal law
- Articles
- 6
- Source
- legislation.mt
- Text retrieved
- Explanation updated
What does this act regulate?
- The sale or disposal of imported store cattle based on their live weight.
- The conditions under which imported store cattle are weighed for import duty or other official purposes.
- Penalties for not following the rules about selling or weighing imported store cattle.
- Liability for offenses committed by associations of persons.
Who does this act apply to?
- Importers of store cattle into Malta.
- Any person involved in the sale or disposal of imported store cattle.
What are the key points?
- All cattle imported into Malta are considered store cattle unless the importer proves otherwise to the Director of Agriculture.
- Imported store cattle can only be sold or disposed of based on their live weight.
- For weighing purposes (like import duty), imported store cattle must be deprived of all food and liquid for at least twenty-four hours after disembarkation, and then weighed as soon as possible after that period.
- Infringements of these rules can result in fines from €58.23 to €116.47 for a first offense, €116.47 to €232.94 for a second offense, and imprisonment for one to three months plus disqualification as an importer for six months for a third or subsequent offense.
Criminal law
Legal text
Legal text
I M P O R T E D S TO R E C AT T L E ( W E I G H I N G )
CHAPTER 143
IMPORTED STORE CATTLE (WEIGHING) ACT * To make provision for establishing the fair weight of store cattle on importation. (22nd July, 1955)† ACT XXIII of 1955, as amended by Act XIII of 1983 and VIII of 1990; and Legal Notice 409 of 2007.
Art. 1
The short title of this Act is the Imported Store Cattle (Weighing) Act.
Art. 2
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires - Short title.
Interpretation. "importer" in respect of any store cattle imported into Malta, means the person who on the date of importation is the holder of a licence from the Director of Agriculture authorising him to import the cattle; "Malta" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article 124 of the Constitution of Malta; "person" includes any partnership, firm, company, or other association of persons; "store cattle" means any animal of the bovine genus intended for slaughtering whether at or about the time of importation or after a period of fattening.
Art. 3
All cattle imported into Malta shall be deemed to be store cattle unless the importer thereof proves the contrary to the satisfaction of the Director of Agriculture.
Store cattle.
Art. 4
Sale of store cattle.
Art. 5
Any infringement of the provisions of article 4 shall constitute an offence punishable on conviction by a Court of Magistrates as follows hereunder: (a) in respect of a first offence against the provisions of article 4 by a fine (multa) of from fifty-eight euro and twenty-three cents (58.23) to one hundred and sixteen euro and forty-seven cents (116.47); *This Act has been repealed by Act XXXIV of 2023. †See Government Notice No. 378 of 25th July, 1955.
Penalties.
Amended by:
XIII. 1983.5;
VIII. 1990.3;
L.N. 409 of 2007.
I M P O R T E D S TOR E C AT T L E ( W E I G H I N G ) (b) in respect of a second offence against the said provisions by a fine (multa) of from one hundred and sixteen euro and forty-seven cents (116.47) to two hundred and thirty-two euro and ninety-four cents (232.94); (c) in respect of a third or subsequent offence against the said provisions, to imprisonment for from one to three months, and to disqualification from being an importer of cattle for six months from date of conviction, without prejudice to any confirmed order authorised under a permit issued previously to that date, in which case, however, the said disqualification shall be effective in respect of any other order as from the date of conviction until the end of six months reckoned from the date of arrival in Malta of the consignment made as a result of that confirmed order or of the last of such orders if more than one.
Liability.
Art. 6
For the purposes of this Act (a) the provision contained in article 24 of the Criminal Code shall apply; and (b) where a person convicted of an offence against any of the provisions of this Act forms part of an association of persons, every person who, at the time of the commission of the offence was a director or officer of that association shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.