MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES  ġ S.L.117.10 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 117.10
MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES OF ESSENTIAL 
COMMODITIES REGULATIONS
21st February, 1957
GOVERNMENT NOTICE 133 of 1957, as amended by Government
Notices 149 and 298 of 1958; and Legal Notices 7 of 1959, 40 of 1960, 15
of 1964, 19 of 1965 and 22 and 24 of 1977.
Title.
Supplies of Essential Commodities Regulations.
Interpretation.
Amended by:
G.N. 149 of 1958;
G.N. 298 of 1958;
L.N. 15 of 1964;
L.N. 19 of 1965.
Cap. 117.
S.L. 117.08
2. In these Regulations the expression ''essential commodity''
shall have the same meaning as that assigned to the expression
''essential goods'' by article 2 of the Supplies and Services Act and
shall also include the commodities specified in the Schedule hereto,
and in the Schedule to the Rationing Regulations; and ''Minister''
means the Minister responsible for Trade.
Offences.
other person with intent, otherwise than in conformity with an
order issued by a competent authority -
( a ) to raise the price; or
( b ) to prevent the sale; or
( c ) to impose any unauthorised conditions,
on the sale, of any essential commodity shall, independently of
whether or not such person succeeds in the intent, be guilty of an
offence against these Regulations.
Deprivation of 
essential 
commodities to the 
community.
4. If any person, who habitually trades or deals in any
essential commodity or is habitually concerned in the supply or
distribution thereof, either alone or in combination with other
persons, performs any act or omits to perform any act knowing or
having reasonable cause to believe that such act or omission is
likely to deprive the community of the supply or the regular supply
of any essential commodity, shall be guilty of an offence against
these Regulations.
Returns.
Substituted by:
G.N. 149 of 1950.
Amended by:
G.N. 298 of 1958;
L.N. 19 of 1965.
S.L. 117.08.
5. Without prejudice to the power to give directions under
regulation 7 of these Regulations and under regulation 41 of the
Rationing Regulations, the Minister may, by an order published in
the Gazette require any person who habitually trades or deals in any
essential commodity or is habitually concerned in the supply or
distribution thereof, or who has in his possession or under his
control any quantity of an essential commodity, to make returns of
the disposal, stocks and balances of any such commodity to the
Minister, at such times and in such form as may be prescribed in the
order.
2 ġ S.L.117.10 MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES 
Authorisation for 
inspection.
Amended by:
G.N. 298 of 1958;
L.N. 19 of 1965.
6. The Minister may authorise in writing any person or
persons to inspect, at any reasonable time, the books, documents,
stocks and premises of any person dealing or trading in essential
commodities. Any person who hinders or obstructs any duly
authorised person or persons in the performance of his or their
duties under this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.
Breach of 
Regulations.
Amended by:
G.N. 298 of 1958;
L.N. 19 of 1965.
7. The Minister may give such directions to any person
making use of, or having under his control or usually trading in or
importing essential commodities, as he considers necessary for the
maintenance and control, production, distribution, use or
consumption of essential commodities. Failure to comply with any
such directions shall constitute a breach of these Regulations.
Submission of 
incorrect return.
8. Any person who contravenes the provisions of regulations
5, 6 and 7 or who knowingly submits an incorrect return for the
purpose of regulation 5, shall be guilty of an offence against these
Regulations.
Exemption.
G.N. 298 of 1958;
L.N. 19 of 1965.
9. The Minister may, in his direction, exempt one or more
traders, or one of more classes of traders generally or in respect of
one or more essential commodities specified by him, from the
obligations imposed on them by regulation 4.
Offences and 
penalties.
Amended by:
L.N. 22 of 1977.
10. Any person guilty of an offence against these Regulations
shall on conviction by the Court of Magistrates (Malta) or the Court
of Magistrates (Gozo) sitting as a Court of Criminal Judicature, be
liable to a fine ( multa ) of not less than one hundred liri but not
exceeding five hundred liri, or to imprisonment for a period of not
less than one month but not exceeding three months, or to both such
fine and such imprisonment.
Court may order 
cancellation or 
suspension of any 
licence.
11. Without prejudice to the penalties prescribed in regulation
10, the said Court, may, on the application of the prosecution, order
the cancellation or the suspension of any licence issued to any
person convicted under these Regulations for the exercise of any
trade or business connected with the sale of the essential
commodity to which the offence relates.
Amended by:
G.N. 149 of 1958;
L.N. 7 of 1959;
L.N. 40 of 1960;
L.N. 24 of 1977.
SCHEDULE
Bread 
Butter
Cheese
Coffee
Edible oil (except oil in small containers)
Eggs in shell
Lard and lard substitute
Laundry soap
Margarine
Matches
MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES  ġ S.L.117.10 3
Meat, including canned meat
Milk, unsweetened tinned (except powdered milk)
Mill offals
Rice
Tea
Tomato paste
Kerosene
Benzine
Gas oil
Fuel oil
Coal
Salt, coarse
Yeast.
