[ CAP. 477.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES

1

CHAPTER 477
NATIONAL ARCHIVES ACT
To regulate the National Archives, and to make provisions for theappointment of the National Archivist and for other dispositions ancillary
thereto.

1st September, 2005;
1st October, 2005
ACT V of 2005, as amended by Legal Notice 427 of 2007 and Act LXIII
of 2021.

Part I
Preliminary
1.

The short title of this Act is the National Archives Act.

Short title.

2.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -Interpretation.

"archival repository" means a building or part of a building inwhich archives are preserved and made available for consultation;"archives" means records of enduring value selected forpermanent preservation;"Council" means the National Archives Council establishedunder article 14;"current records" means records regularly used for the conduct of
the current business of an institution;"financial year" means any period of twelve months ending on
the 31st December:
Provided that the first financial year of the National
Archives shall begin on the coming into force of this Act and shallend on the 31st December of the next following year;"heads of public offices" means the Permanent Secretaries,
Heads of Departments of Government, Chief Executive Officers
and officials in a comparable positions responsible for theadministration and operation of any public office;"Local Council" means a local council established under the
Local Government Act;
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for the National
Archives;"National Archives" means the entity called the National
Archives of Malta established under article 3;"National Archivist" means the head of the National Archives
appointed under article 5;"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations or orders madeunder this Act;
"private records" means records other than public records as
specified in the Second Schedule;"public office" means any body established by the Constitution

Cap. 363.

2[ CAP. 477.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES

or by or under any law, or with any partnership or other body inwhich the Government of Malta, or any such body as aforesaid,
have a controlling interest or over which they have effective
control;"public officer" has the same meaning assigned to it by article
124 of the Constitution;"public records" means the records specified in the Second
Schedule;"records" means recorded information regardless of form or
medium created, received and maintained by any public office inpursuance of its legal obligations or in the transaction of its
business and providing evidence of the performance of thoseobligations or that business;"Records Officer" means the person so appointed under article
16;"retention and disposal schedule" means the control document
recording appraisal decisions and prescribing retention or disposal
action in respect of records.
Part II
Constitution, Composition and Functions of the National Archives
National Archives.

3. (1) There shall be a body, to be called the National
Archives of Malta, under the responsibility of the National
Archivist. The mission of the National Archives is to preserve thecollective memory of the Maltese nation through the protection andaccessibility of all public archives regulated by this Act.

Legal personality
and judicial
representation.

(2) The National Archives shall be a body corporate having a
distinct legal personality and shall be capable, subject to theprovisions of this Act, of entering into contracts, of acquiring,holding and disposing of any property for the purpose of its
functions, of suing and being sued, and of doing all such things andentering into all such transactions as are incidental or conducive tothe exercise or performance of its functions under this Act.

Objects andfunctions of the
National Archives.

4.

(1)

The functions of the National Archives shall be:(a) to safeguard the collective memory of the Maltese
nation and protect the rights of citizens through theselection, preservation and access to the archives inwhatever medium to the highest of standards;(b) establish and maintain a register to be known as the
National Register of Archives;(c) to monitor with powers of inspection the recordkeeping practices within public offices;(d) accept and acquire private records of nationalsignificance by gift, purchase, bequest or deposit;(e) provide leadership to Maltese archives in such areas aspreservation of archival records, records management
and national cooperation schemes;(f) promote the professional training of archivists andNATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

3

records managers.
(2) For the purposes of sub-regulation (1)(b), the National
Register of Archives shall contain particulars, in such form as the
National Archivist considers appropriate, of (i)archives open for public inspection and locationof holdings;(ii) records of national significance in privatearchives, after the necessary permission has
been granted by the owner of the records; and(iii) any other details or information which will
benefit the promotion of the archives and theprovision of research facilities to the generalpublic.
5. (1) There shall be a National Archivist who shall be a
person with professional qualifications, recognised competence andreputation in the domain of archives, and who shall be appointed by
the Minister following consultation with the Archives Council for aperiod of three years under such terms and conditions as isestablished in his letter of appointment. On the expiry of his termsuch a person may be re-appointed for a further term or terms of
three years:

Appointment of
National Archivist.

Provided that the first National Archivist shall be appointed
by the Minister for an initial period of three years.
(2) The legal and judicial representation of the National
Archives shall vest in the National Archivist provided that the
National Archivist may appoint any one or more of the officers or
employees of the National Archives, to appear in his name and on
his behalf in any judicial proceedings and on any act, contract,
instrument or other document whatsoever.
(3) There shall also be an Assistant National Archivist for
Gozo with the same professional qualifications as the National
Archivist and who shall be appointed in the same manner and forthe same periods of time as the National Archivist.
6. (1) The National Archivist shall be the chief executive
officer of the National Archives, and he shall also be responsible
for the preservation of all public records of enduring value otherthan any records whose transfer may have been deferred underarticle 8(5), and shall in particular:(a) provide professional assistance, advice and guidanceon the establishment and management of filing andregistry systems in public offices and on the training of
the staff of public offices in record keeping;(b) inspect the record keeping practices and systems of
public offices which are obliged to deliver records to
the National Archives;(c) agree with the heads of public offices on, and ensure
the implementation of, the retention and disposal
schedules relating to records specific to each suchoffice, which schedules shall be sufficient authority

Functions andduties of the
National Archivist.

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NATIONAL ARCHIVES
for taking the action specified at the due date;(d) establish and ensure compliance with standards for the
management of public records;(e) ensure the arrangement and description of the archival
holdings and provide appropriate finding aids tofacilitate access to them;(f) ensure that reasonable facilities are available to the
public for inspecting and obtaining copies of publicrecords in the National Archives, insofar as suchrecords are open to inspection under article 10;(g) give advice to users on the use of the preserved records
and documentary material of the Archives, andincrease the knowledge of national history and support
studies in it;(h) establish a reference library on archival theory andpractice;(i) make the holdings of the National Archives known byorganising outreach events and the lending of publicrecords elsewhere subject to conditions which he may
specify in line with article 9;(j) prescribe rules to be observed by those wishing toconsult public records in the National Archives or any
other archival repository under his control;(k) dispose of public records in his custody if in his
opinion they do not warrant preservation by the
National Archives or the preservation by the National
Archives of copies of them in such form as he may
determine will suffice;(l) enter into arrangements with other institutions for thejoint management or conservation or restoration ofarchives, and for the provision of reprographic or othertechnical facilities; and(m) prepare and sell publications or objects related to thefunctions of the National Archives.

(2)

The National Archivist shall furthermore (a) assume full responsibility for the administration andorganization and the administrative control of theofficers and employees of the National Archives andfor such purpose assign to each officer or employee
such duties as may be required;(b) developthenecessary
strategies
forthe
implementation of the objectives of the National
Archives;(c) advise the Minister and the Council on any matter they
may refer to him or on any matter which he considers
necessary or expedient;(d) perform such other duties as the Minister may assign
to him from time to time.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

57.
The National Archivist and every employee of the National
Archives shall, before assuming duties in the National Archives,
subscribe to the oath contained in the First Schedule.

Oath of secrecy.

8. (1) The records to be preserved in the National Archives
shall be the public records listed in the Second Schedule.

Records to bedeposited in theArchives.

(2) Archives of a particular nature which are regulated by anyother law, in force from time to time shall be kept and shall be
regulated in accordance with that law provided that such archives
are preserved and made accessible according to standards agreed
upon with the National Archivist.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-article (2), theMinister may in concurrence with the Minister responsible for aparticular archive, order the transfer of documents kept in sucharchives to the National Archives, and this under such conditions as
may be agreed upon by the Minister and the Minister responsible
for those Archives; and where any such document is transferred to
the National Archives, for the purpose of any law regulating thedeposit of that document in the existing archives, such document
shall be deemed to be properly deposited in accordance with suchlaw, and all responsibility relative to such document, including theissue of copies and extracts therefrom, as well as the authentication
thereof, shall upon the transfer of such documents vest in the
National Archivist.
(4) The National Archivist may certify that particulardepartmental records which are more than thirty years old do not
warrant transfer to the National Archives for preservation, and any
records so certified shall be retained in the appropriate public
office or, as the case may be, returned to that public office, where
they may be retained, or disposed of, subject to the granting of an
authorisation under article 6.
(5) The National Archivist may defer the acceptance of thetransfer of records and archives into his custody if accommodation
for them is not available or other arrangements for their reception
cannot be made.

Deferment oftransfer.

9. (1) No record or object preserved in the National Archives
may, without the written permission of the National Archivist, betaken out from the premises of the National Archives. A copy of
every permission granted by the National Archivist shall bepreserved in the National Archives and shall be available forinspection.

Records may not
be taken out of the
National Archives
without
permission.
Amended by:
LXIII.2021.11.

(2) Loans of public records outside Malta may not be madewithout the written permission of the Minister given following
consultation with the National Archivist and the Council.
(3) Where a document to be found in the National Archives is
to be exhibited in Court, or otherwise used in the original, theNational Archivist shall exhibit or otherwise use the original after
making a copy thereof for preservation in the archives if that is
possible.

6[ CAP. 477.

Cap. 55.
Access to records.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES(4) In the event that the National Archivist is requested to inspect
or issue a copy of the register of a public will deposited in the National
Archives, the provisions of the Notarial Profession and Notarial
Archives Act shall mutatis mutandis apply.
10. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, whena record is deposited at the National Archives public access to suchrecords shall only be regulated by the provisions of this Act.
(2) Public records in the National Archives, or in any otherarchival repository under the control of the National Archivist,
shall be available for public inspection after the expiration of aperiod of thirty years from their creation, except insofar as a longer
or shorter period may have been prescribed by the Minister
following consultation with the Minister responsible for the public
office which created the records or its successor in function.
At the expiration of the period of thirty years prescribed in
sub-article (1) any records selected for permanent preservation
which are still classified as confidential, or secret shall be
examined by the Council to ascertain whether their continuing
classification is necessary and, if it is not, they shall be declassified and shall become open to public inspection under subarticle (1).
(3) The Minister may, on the advice of the National Archivist,
limit access by the public to documents and objects where:(a) they contain information which has been obtained by apublic authority under an obligation of secrecy orconfidentiality; or(b) the security of the State or the personal safety of any
individual so require; or(c) the fragility of the archives so warrants; or(d) the need for organisation of the archives makes it
necessary.
(4) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 9, every copyof a document, issued as a true copy duly sealed with the seal of the
National Archives and signed by the National Archivist, shall forthe purposes of any law, be deemed an authentic copy and for the
purpose of evidence in any court or tribunal be deemed equivalent
to the original.

Right of preference
exercisable by theGovernment.

11. (1) In case of sale of any record or work which in theopinion of the Minister, following consultation with the National
Archivist, has archival or historical importance, the Government
shall have the right of acquiring the same in preference to all otherpersons on equal conditions.
(2) Such right of preference shall be exercised by the National
Archivist by means of a judicial act served on the purchaser within
two months from the date on which the vendor or the purchaser
gives notice to the Minister, by means of a judicial act or aregistered letter, of the sale indicating the name and address of thepurchaser and the conditions of sale, or, if no such notice is given,
within six months on which it shall come to the knowledge of theNATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

7

Minister that a sale has been effected.
(3) Any person who is responsible for any act or omission
having the effect of frustrating the exercise of the right ofpreference appertaining to the Government under this article shallbe guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable for the
penalties contemplated in this Act.
12. In the exercise of his functions under this Act, the National
Archivist shall:

Relations with the
Minister.

(a) give effect, as soon as practicable, to any direction, notinconsistent with any provision of this Act which the
Minister may give to him, in relation to the policy to
be followed by him in the discharge to his function,and in relation to any matter which appears to the
Minister to affect the nation’s archival heritage;(b) afford to the Minister facilities for obtaining any
information with regard to the property and activitiesof the National Archives, and for this purpose the
National Archivist shall furnish the Minister withreturns, accounts and other information with respect tothe functions of the National Archives, and afford
facilities for the verification of any information
furnished, in such manner and at such times as the
Minister may require.
13. The National Archives shall be exempt from any liability
for payment of any tax, other than customs or excise duties, or tax
on income or duty on documents for the time being in force in
Malta.

Exemption fromcertain taxes.

14. (1) There shall be a National Archives Council, appointed
by the Minister, which shall be composed as follows:

National Archives
Council.

(a) a Chairperson;(b) the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage ex officio or
his representative;(c) the Chairperson of Heritage Malta ex officio or his
representative;(d) the National Librarian ex officio or his representative;(e) the Permanent Secretary in the office of the Prime
Minister ex officio or his representative;(f) a person to represent the non-governmental archives orrecords centres;(g) three other persons chosen from amongst persons
known to be users of and familiar with archives,
records management and information professions, or
working in non-governmental organizations dedicatedto information and archives, one of whom shall be
appointed by the Minister responsible for Gozo.
(2) The National Archivist and the Assistant National Archivist
for Gozo shall attend all the meetings of the Council but shall not
vote at such meetings:

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NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Provided that the Council may, if it deems so fit, require the
National Archivist and the Assistant National Archivist for Gozo
not to attend any of the meetings or any part of a meeting.
(3) The members of the Council shall be appointed for a termof three years, but the members so appointed shall be eligible forreappointment on the expiration of their term of office.
(4) The meetings of the Council shall be called by the
Chairperson as often as may be necessary but at least once every
two months either on his own initiative or at the request of any twoof the other members.
(5) Half the number of the members for the time being
constituting the Council shall form a quorum. Decisions shall be
adopted by a simple majority of the votes of the members present
and voting. The Chairperson shall have an initial vote and in theevent of an equality of votes, a casting vote.
(6) Any member who has a direct or indirect interest in any
contract or other action made or proposed to be made by theCouncil in connection with the National Archives, shall disclose
the nature of his interest at the first meeting of the Council after the
relevant facts have come to his knowledge. Such disclosure shall berecorded in the minutes of the meeting, and such member shallwithdraw from any meeting while such matter is discussed or
decided upon by the Council.
(7) Subject to the provisions of this Act and to such procedures
as may be prescribed, the Council shall regulate its own
proceedings.
Functions of theCouncil.

15. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act, theCouncil shall (a) promote the National Archives and other record
keeping entities;(b) ensure and facilitate the collaboration between the
different stakeholders with direct or indirect
responsibility for the protection and management of
the archives sector;(c) advise the Minister on the management of archives in
Malta;(d) draw the attention of the Minister or of any
organisation or person responsible for archives to any
urgent action that may be considered necessary for the
better management of archives and records;(e) advise the Minister on any matter arising from theprovisions of this Act and on any other matter referred
to it by the Minister.
(2) The Council shall also biannually convene a National
Forum about the archives to discuss the state of the archives
generally after receiving a relative report to be drawn up by theCouncil. There shall be invited to attend at such Forum, among
others, Departments and other Government entities, Mayors ofLocal Councils, owners of private archives and their archivists,

NATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

9n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o rg a n i s a t i o n s h a v i n g a n i n t e r e s t i n t h emaintenance and safeguarding of archives and public records, theUniversity of Malta, other education institutions, specialists,
consultants, representatives of the commercial sector, persons whomake use of the archives, and any such other party showing to theCouncil in writing that it has an interest therein. The Forumprocedures shall be published and sent to the Minister.
(3) The Council shall give public notice one month in advanceof the meeting of the Forum which shall be chaired by the President
who is to be appointed by the Council.
16. (1) There shall be in every public office a Records Officer
or Officers. It shall be the duty of every head of public office tosend a yearly return to the National Archivist with details of theRecords Officer and other details about the upkeep of records intheir public office as may be required by the National Archivist.
(2) Records Officers shall be responsible for creating andmaintaining adequate documentation of the functions and activitiesof their respective public offices through the establishment of goodrecords keeping practices, including:(a) creating and managing current records withinappropriate filing and registry systems;(b) drafting with the National Archivist retention anddisposal schedules relating to records specific to eachpublic office:Provided that such schedules shall only come into
effect when approved and signed by the National
Archivist, and in the case of records containing
personal data, also after consultation with theCommissioner for Data Protection;(c) implementing retention and disposal schedules issuedin accordance with article 6;(d) providing access to the National Archives forinspections of records in accordance with article 6;(e) informing the National Archivist as soon as it is
known that a function or functions of the pubic officewill be transferred to another public office ororganisation, or that an activity carried on by the
public office or an activity of some other bodyconnected with its work is to be wound up;(f) preparing, and providing the National Archives with,lists of records to be transferred to the Archives forpermanent preservation in accordance with guidelines
issued by the National Archivist;(g) arranging the material to be transferred to the National
Archives according to archival best practice agreed
with the National Archivist;(h) providing for the safe transfer of records to bepreserved at the National Archives.
Part III

Responsibility of
Departmental
Records Officers.

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NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Administrative and Personnel Provisions

Staff appointments.

17. (1) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and of
any other law including this Act applicable thereto, theappointment of officers and other employees of the National
Archives shall be made by the National Archivist. The terms andconditions of employment shall be determined by the National
Archivist with the approval of the Minister.

Appointments andfunctions ofofficers andemployees.

(2) The National Archivist shall appoint and employ, at such
remuneration and upon such terms and conditions as he may inaccordance with sub-article (1) determine, such officers andemployees as may from time to time be necessary for the due andefficient discharge of the functions of the National Archives.

Cap. 9.
Detailing of public
officers.

(3) The members of the Council, all officers and employees of
the National Archives shall be deemed to be public officers within
the meaning of the Criminal Code.
18. (1) The Prime Minister may, at the request of the National
Archivist, from time to time direct that any public officer, shall be
detailed for duty with the National Archives in such capacity andwith effect from such date as may be specified in the direction.
(2) The period during which a direction as aforesaid shall apply
to any officer specified therein shall, unless the officer retires fromthe public service, or otherwise ceases to hold office at an earlier
date, be such as may be specified in the direction, unless the
direction is revoked earlier by the Prime Minister.

Status of public
officers.

(3) Where any officer is detailed for duty with the National
Archives in accordance with this article, such officer shall during
the time in which such direction has effect in relation to him, be
under the administrative authority and control of the National
Archivist but shall for other intents and purposes remain and beconsidered and treated as a public officer.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, apublic officer detailed for duty as aforesaid (a) shall not during the time while such officer is so
detailed (i) be precluded from applying for a transfer to a
department of the Government in accordancewith the terms and conditions of service attachedto the appointment under the Government heldby that public officer at a date on which he wasdetailed for duty; or(ii) be so employed that the remuneration andconditions of service are less favourable thanthose which are attached to the appointment
under the Government held by that public officer
at the date he was detailed for duty as aforesaid
or which would have become attached to suchappointment, during the said period, had suchofficer not been detailed for duty with the
National Archives; andNATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

(b) shall be entitled to have the service with the National
Archives considered as service with the Government
for the purpose of any pension, gratuity or benefit
under the Pensions Ordinance, and the Widows’ andOrphans’ Pensions Act, and of any other right or
privilege to which that public officer would beentitled, and shall be liable to any liability to which hewould be liable, but for the fact that he is detailed for
duty with the National Archives.

11

Cap. 93.
Cap. 58.

(5) Where an application is made as provided in sub-article(4)(a)(i), the same consideration shall be given thereto as if theapplicant had not been detailed for duty with the National
Archives.
(6) The National Archives shall pay to the Government, whereapplicable, such contributions as may from time to time be
determined by the Minister responsible for finance in respect of thecost of pensions and gratuities earned by an officer detailed for
duty with the National Archives as aforesaid during the period inwhich such officer is so detailed.
19. (1) The National Archives may, with the approval of thePrime Minister, offer to any officer detailed for duty with it under
any of the provisions of article 18 permanent employment at a
remuneration and on terms and conditions not less favourable thanthose enjoyed by such officer at the date of such offer.

Offers ofpermanent
employment topublic officers
detailed for dutywith the National
Archives.

(2) The terms and conditions comprised in any offer made as
aforesaid shall not be deemed to be less favourable merely because
they are not in all respects identical with or superior to thoseenjoyed by the officer concerned at the date of such offer, if suchterms and conditions, taken as a whole, in the opinion of the Prime
Minister offer substantially equivalent or greater benefits.
(3) Every officer who accepts permanent employment with the
National Archives, under the provisions of sub-article (1), shall forall purposes other than those of the Pensions Ordinance, and of the
Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions Act, be deemed to have ceased to
be in service with the Government and to have entered into service
with the National Archives on the date of such acceptance and forthe purposes of the said Ordinance and of the said Act, so far as
applicable to that officer, service with the National Archives shallbe deemed to be service with the Government within the meanings
thereof respectively.
(4) Every such officer as aforesaid who immediately before
accepting permanent employment with the National Archives wasentitled to benefit under the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions Act,
shall continue to be so entitled to benefit thereunder to all intents as
if service with the National Archives was service with theGovernment.
(5) The National Archives shall pay to the Government suchcontributions as may from time to time be determined by the
Minister responsible for finance in respect of the cost of pensions
and gratuities earned by an officer who has accepted permanent
employment with it as aforesaid during the period commencing on

Cap. 93.
Cap. 58.

Cap. 58.

12[ CAP. 477.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES

the date of such officer’s acceptance.
(6)(a) For the purposes of this article the posts and salary
grades with the National Archives shall be classified in
the most nearly corresponding grades and incremental
levels in the service under the Government of Malta by
reference to job description, skills, responsibilities andother analogous factors.
(b) The classification referred to in paragraph (a) shall be
carried out by a board composed of a chairperson
appointed by the Minister responsible for finance andtwo other members, one appointed by the Ministry
responsible centrally for personnel policies in the
public service and one appointed by the National
Archivist. The classification shall be subject to thefinal approval of the Minister responsible for finance.
(c) Such classification shall take place within threemonths of any adjustment of salaries of employees in
the Government service, and, or, of employees of the
National Archives.
(d) No post shall be classified in a grade higher than thatof grade 3 in the service of the Government or suchother grade that the Minister responsible for financemay from time to time by notice in the Gazettedetermine.

Cap. 93.

(e) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 113 of
the Constitution, no person may, following aclassification as aforesaid, be entitled to rights under
the said Pensions Ordinance less favourable than thoseto which that person would have been entitled prior tosuch classification.
Part IV
Financial Provisions

Revenues of the
National Archives.

20. (1) Without prejudice to the following provisions of thisarticle, the National Archives shall so conduct its affairs that every
effort shall be made to meet as much as possible of the expenditure
required for the proper performance of its functions out of its
revenues.
(2) For such purpose the National Archivist shall levy suchfees, rates and other payments prescribed or deemed to beprescribed by or under this Act or any other law.
(3) The National Archives shall be paid by Government out of
the Consolidated Fund such sums as the House, may from time totime authorise to be appropriated to meet the costs of specified
works to be continued or otherwise carried out by the National
Archives, being works of infrastructure or a similar capital nature,or to meet any of its expenditure which it cannot meet out of its
own revenue.
(4) Any revenue shall, subject to such directives as the
Minister, after consultation with the Minister responsible for

NATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

13

finance, may from time to time give, be applied to the National
Archives for its purposes, and without prejudice to the generality ofthe powers given to the Minister by this sub-article, any direction
given by the Minister as aforesaid may order the transfer to theGovernment, or the application in such manner as may be specified
in the direction, of any part of the fees rates and other payments
levied in accordance with sub-article (2).
21. (1) For the purposes of any requirements of a capitalnature, the National Archives may, with the approval in writing of
the Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible forfinance, borrow or raise money in such manner, from such person,
body or authority, and under such terms and conditions as the
Minister, after consultation as aforesaid, may in writing approve.

Power to borrow
capital.

(2) The National Archives may also, with the approval of the
Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible for finance,from time to time borrow, by way of overdraft or otherwise, suchsums as it may require for carrying out its functions under this Act.
22. The Minister responsible for finance may, after
consultation with the Minister, make advances to the National
Archives of such sums as the Minister responsible for finance may
agree to be required for carrying out any of its functions under thisAct, and may make such advances on such terms and conditions as
the Minister responsible for finance may, after consultation as
aforesaid, deem appropriate. Any such advance may be made by the
Minister responsible for finance out of the Consolidated Fund, andwithout further appropriation other than this Act, by warrant,
authorising the Accountant General to make such advance.

Advances from
Government.

23. (1) The National Archivist shall prepare in every financial
year, and shall not later than eight weeks before the end of eachfinancial year adopt, estimates of the income and expenditure forthe next following financial year:

Estimates of the
National Archives.

Provided that the estimates of the National Archives for its
first financial year shall be prepared and adopted within such timeas the Minister may by notice in writing specify to the National
Archives.
(2) The estimates shall be made in such forms and shall containsuch information and such comparisons with previous estimates as
the Minister responsible for finance may direct.
(3) A copy of the estimates shall, upon their adoption by the
National Archivist, be sent forthwith to the Minister and to the
Minister responsible for finance.
24. (1) No expenditure shall be made or incurred by the
National Archives unless it has been approved by the House.
(2)

Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-article (1) (a) until the expiration of six months from the beginningof a financial year, or until the approval of theestimates for that year by the House, whichever is theearlier date, the National Archives may make or incur

Expenditureaccording to theapproved
estimates.

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NATIONAL ARCHIVES
expenditure for carrying out its functions under thisAct not exceeding in the aggregate one-half of theamount approved for the preceding financial year;(b) expenditure approved in respect of a head or sub-headof the estimates may, with the approval of the Minister,
be incurred in respect of another head or sub-head ofthe estimates;(c) in respect of the first financial year, the National
Archives may make or incur expenditure until theapproval of the estimates for that year by the House
not exceeding in the aggregate such amounts as the
Minister responsible for finance may, after
consultation with the Minister, allow;(d) if in respect of any financial year it is found that theamount approved by the House is not sufficient, or if aneed has arisen for expenditure for a purpose notprovided for in the estimates, the National Archives
may adopt supplementary estimates for approval by
the House and pending such approval, the National
Archives may in special circumstances and with theapproval of the Minister, acting in consultation with
the Minister responsible for finance, incur the relative
expenditure or part thereof as the said Minister may soapprove, and in any such case the provisions of thisAct applicable to the estimates shall, as near aspracticable, apply to the supplementary estimates.

Accounts andaudit.

25. (1) The National Archivist shall cause to be kept proper
books of account and other records in respect of the operations of
the National Archives and shall cause to be prepared a statement ofaccounts in respect of each financial year.
(2) The accounts of the National Archives shall be audited byan auditor or auditors to be appointed by it and approved by the
Minister:
Provided that the Minister responsible for finance may
require the books and other records of the National Archives to beaudited or examined by the Auditor General who shall for thispurpose have power to carry out such physical checking and otherverification, and may require such information, as the Auditor
General may deem necessary.
(3) After the end of each financial year, at the same time as a
copy of the estimates of the National Archives is forwarded to the
Minister under article 23, the National Archivist shall cause a copyof the statement of accounts duly audited to be transmitted to the
Minister and to the Minister responsible for finance together with acopy of any report made by the auditor or auditors on that statement
or on the accounts of the National Archives.
(4) The Minister shall cause a copy of every such statement andreport to be laid before the House.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

26. (1) All moneys accruing to the National Archives shall be
paid into a bank or banks appointed as bankers by it. Such moneys
shall, as far as practicable, be paid into the banks from day to day,except for such sum as the National Archivist may require to retain
to meet petty disbursements and immediate payments.

15

Deposit ofrevenues andpayment by the
National Archives.

(2) All payments out of the funds of the National Archives,
except petty disbursements not exceeding such sum as may be fixedby the National Archivist with the approval of the Minister, shall bemade by such officer or officers of the National Archives as shallbe appointed or designated for the purpose.
(3) Cheques against and withdrawals from any bank account of
the National Archives shall be signed by such officer of the
National Archives as may be appointed or designated by the
National Archivist for that purpose and shall be countersigned by
the authorised member or officer of the National Archives as may
be authorised by the National Archives for that purpose.
(4) The National Archives shall also make provision withrespect to (a) the manner in which and the officer or officers bywhom payments are to be authorised or approved;(b) the title of any account held with the bank or banks
into which its monies are to be paid, and the transfer offunds from one account into another;(c) the method to be adopted in making payments out of
its fund; and(d) generally with respect to any matter which is relevantto the proper keeping and control of the accounts,
books and other records and the control of its finances.
27. The National Archives shall not, except with the approvalof the Minister granted after consultation with the Minister
responsible for finance, award or enter into any contract for the
supply of goods or materials or for the execution of work or for therendering of services, to or for the benefit of the National Archives,
which is estimated by the National Archivist to involve an
expenditure exceeding six thousand and nine hundred and eightyeight euro and twelve cents (6,988.12), or such other amount as the
Minister responsible for finance may authorize, except after noticeof its intention to enter into such contract has been published andcompetitive tenders have been issued.

Contracts of supply
and of works.
Amended by:
L.N. 427 of 2007.

28. The National Archivist shall, not later than six weeks after
the end of each financial year, make and transmit to the Ministerand to the Minister responsible for finance a report dealing
generally with the activities of the National Archives during that
financial year and containing such information relating to its
proceedings and policy as either of the said Ministers may fromtime to time require. The Minister shall, not later than four weeks
from the receipt of such report, cause a copy of every such report tobe laid on the Table of the House.

Annual report.

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NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Part V
Transfer of certain Assets to the National Archives

Transfer of assets
to the National
Archives.

29. (1) The property and undertakings owned by theGovernment and used by it immediately before the date of thecoming into force of this Part of this Act, for the operation of anyof the functions which by this Act are being transferred to or vested
in the National Archives shall, on the date aforesaid, by virtue of
this Act and without further assurance, be transferred to and vested
in the National Archives under the same title by which they were
held by the Government immediately before the said date. The
provisions of this sub-article shall not apply to immovable
property.
(2) The use and administration of the immovable assets fromtime to time specified in the Order made by the Minister
responsible for lands in consultation with the Minister andpublished in the Gazette (hereinafter referred to as "the immovable
assets") being immovable assets which immediately before thecoming into force of this Part of this Act were owned by theGovernment and used by it for the operation of any of the functions
which by this Act are being transferred to or vested in the National
Archives, shall, with effect from such day as may be specified inany such Order and by the virtue of this Act and without any further
assurance, be vested in the National Archives.
(3) The transfer and vesting aforesaid shall extend to the wholeof such property and undertakings and, without prejudice to thegenerality aforesaid, shall include all plant, equipment, apparata,
instruments, vehicles, craft, buildings, structures, installations,land, roads, works, stocks and other property movable or
immovable, assets, powers, rights and privileges and all things
necessary or ancillary thereto which are held or enjoyed inconnection therewith or appertaining thereto, as well as all
obligations affecting or relating to any of the aforesaid property or
undertakings or other thing included therein as aforesaid.
(4) Any transfer of property, whether moveable or immovable,
shall be subject to all those terms and conditions that the Ministermay deem necessary to ensure that such property is exclusively
used for the purposes of the functions of the National Archives or
purposes ancillary thereto.

Construction oflaws, etc.

30. Subject to the provisions of this Act, all laws, rules,
regulations, orders, judgements, decrees, wards, deeds, bonds,
contracts, agreements, instruments, documents, warrants and otherarrangements, subsisting immediately before the date of the coming
into force of this Part of this Act affecting or relating to any of theproperties or undertakings transferred to the National Archives byor under this Act shall have full force and effect against or infavour of the National Archives, and shall be enforceable freely
and effectually, as if instead of the Government or governmental
authority the National Archives had been named therein or had
been a party thereto, and otherwise in substitution of theGovernment or governmental authority.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

17Part VI
Offences
31. (1) Any person who (a) receives or retains any public record knowing that it
has been illegally removed in Malta or illegally
exported from any other country; or(b) hinders, obstructs, molests or interferes with, or
attempts to hinder, obstruct, molest or interfere with,any officer or employee of the National Archives orany police officer in the execution of duties provided
for under this Act, or fails to comply with any lawfulorder by any such officer or employee or police officer
as aforesaid, or knowingly furnishes such officers or
employees with false information or neglects orrefuses to give any information required by or under
this Act,

Unauthorised
removal ordestruction ordamage of publicrecords.
Amended by:
L.N. 427 of 2007.

shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be liable, on
conviction, to a fine (multa) of not less than four hundred andsixty-five euro and eighty-seven cents (465.87) and not exceeding
eleven thousand and six hundred and forty-six euro and eightyseven cents (11,646.87), or to imprisonment for a term notexceeding three years, or to both such fine and imprisonment:
Provided that, subject to the above maximum, the minimum
fine (multa) to which an offender shall become liable under thisarticle shall not be less than the value of any work that might berequired to remedy the effects of the offence.
(2) The Court, besides awarding the punishment referred to inthis article, may order the convicted offender to remove the causesof the offence and to undo anything which was done without theauthorisation required under this Act, within a time sufficient forthe purpose and, if the offender fails to comply with any such order
within the time so fixed, he shall be liable to a further fine (multa)
of not less than fifty-eight euro and twenty-three cents (58.23) andnot more than one hundred and sixteen euro and forty-seven cents(116.47), as the court may fix, for every day during which thedefault continues after the expiration of the said time.
(3) Any public record which has been or which may beremoved without proper authorisation under this Act, may bereclaimed by the National Archives.
Part VII
Miscellaneous
32. (1) In making available for inspection or providing copies
of public records in his custody the National Archivist shall not be
in breach of the copyright of such records.
(2) The provision of copies of public records by the National
Archivist does not imply the transfer of any copyright therein to therecipients.
(3)

The publication of facsimile copies of public records in the

Copyright.

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NATIONAL ARCHIVES

custody of the National Archivist in which copyright of theGovernment of Malta subsists is prohibited except with the consent
of the National Archivist and subject to such conditions as he may
require and to the payment of such fees as may be prescribed under
this Act.
Power to makeregulations.

33. The Minister may, after consultation with the National
Archivist, make regulations to give effect to any of the foregoingprovisions of this Act, or to regulate or otherwise provide for any
matter relating to public records, and may in particular, but without
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing make regulations forany of the following purposes:(a) to provide for the proper management and preservationof public records and the manner in which the public
may have access to the documents and objects in the
National Archives;(b) to establish the standards and the manner in which
copies and other reproductions of documents andobjects in the National Archives, may be made;(c) to establish the fees and dues which may be payable byor under, or for services rendered pursuant to, theprovisions of this Act;(d) to ensure the better fulfilment of the functions of the
National Archives, the National Archivist, and theCouncil;(e) to regulate the appointment of officers and employeeswith the National Archives;(f) to establish guidelines for best preservation practice;(g) to provide for any forms or procedures which may benecessary or expedient and for which no express
procedure is contained in this Act;(h) to regulate movement of public records and the periods
within which such records shall remain closed to
public inspection;(i) where not otherwise provided in this Act, to prescribe
rules regulating the powers and duties of, and theprocedures to be followed by the National Archives;(j) to amend the Schedule;(k) to prescribe anything else which may or is to beprescribed under this Act.

Transitional
provisions for
Records in the
National Archives.

34. Records and other materials in the custody of the Curatorof the National Archives on the day before the coming into
operation of this Act are hereby transferred to the custody of the
National Archivist subject to any terms and conditions that wereapplicable to those records and other materials on that day.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES[ CAP. 477.

19

FIRST SCHEDULE(Article 7)
Form of Oath
I, ......................................................... swear/solemnly affirm that I will fully andhonestly fulfil my duties as National Archivist/employee of the National Archives inconformity with the requirements of the National Archives Act, and of all orders
made thereunder, and that I will not, except in the performance of my duties underthat Act and such orders and except when information has fallen into the publicdomain, disclose or make known during my service as National Archivist/employeeof the National Archives or at any time thereafter, any matter which comes to myknowledge relating to any person, Government department or other public office byreason of my service as National Archivist/employee of the National Archives.
(So help me God.)

Amended by:
LXIII.2021.12.

SECOND SCHEDULE(ARTICLE 8)
List of Public Records

1.
Public records and archives to be preserved in any archival repository whichfalls under the responsibility of the National Archives are those records and archives
created, received and maintained by:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

the office of the President;
the House of Representatives;
the office of the Cabinet of Ministers;
any ministry, department, commission, authority, agency or other public
office:Provided that in the case of public corporations or other parastatal or
public organizations which are or have been privatised the provisions of
this Schedule shall only apply up to the date when the Government of
Malta or any body owned or controlled by it no longer has effective
control;(e) any embassy or other foreign representation of the Government of Malta
outside Malta and by any officer serving in such a post;(f) the Electoral Commission or any committee or officer thereof;(g) the Courts of Justice, or any other court or tribunal with jurisdiction
within Malta or by any judge, magistrate or other officer of such a court;(h) any local council or authority, or committee or sub-committee or officer
thereof;(i) any predecessor or successor of any of the institutions, bodies orindividuals designated in paragraphs (a) to (h);(j) any other body or individual so designated by the Minister by regulation
made in accordance with this Act.
2.

Records originated by the Ministry for Gozo, Gozo sections of government

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NATIONAL ARCHIVES

departments, and by public bodies established for Gozo shall be deposited at the
Gozo Section of the National Archives.
3.
All public records and archives which at the time of the coming into force of
this Act were in the custody of the National Archives of Malta shall be considered tobe public records for the purposes of this Act.
4.
All registers of notarial deeds received by notaries residing in Malta and Gozo
or Comino when these registers belong to the Government, or are privately owned but,for one reason or another, do not have a conservator or delegated notary, or when suchregisters are seized from the hands of such notaries for a good cause contemplated in thisAct, shall be preserved in a repository of archives falling under the responsibility of the
National Archives:
Provided that all registers of notarial deeds received by notaries residing in
Gozo or Comino shall be deposited in the Gozo section of the National Archives.