INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 254.07
INLAND POST REGULATIONS
28th October, 1985
LEGAL NOTICE 35 of 1985, as amended by Legal Notices 74 of 1987,
73 and 95 of 1988; 11, 56, 71 and 104 of 1989, 86 of 1990, 74, 146, 159
and 178 of 1991, 38 of 1992, 14, 27, 70, 139, 167, 174 and 183 of 1993, 38
and 72 of 1995, 14 and 148 of 1997, and 229 of 2002.
Title.
Interpretation.
Cap. 254.
"apartment" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article
19(6) of the Act;
"articles for the use of the blind" has the same meaning as is
assigned to it by regulation 51;
"authorized agent" means a person duly authorized by a box-
holder in accordance with the provisions of these regulations to
collect mail from a private delivery box registered in the name of
that box-holder;
"box-holder" means a person in whose name a private delivery
box is registered by the Postmaster General;
"coin" means coin (whether or not current), except such as is
used or designed for purposes of ornament;
"franking machine" means a machine for making impressions
indicating the value of the postage pre-paid on postal articles;
"impression slip" means the label affixed to a postal article and
bearing on it an impression made by a franking machine indicating
the value of the postage pre-paid;
"licensee" means a person who holds a licence issued by the
Postmaster General either to use a franking machine, or to sell
postage stamps or to operate a Business Reply Service under the
respective provision of these regulations;
"newspaper" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by
regulation 46;
"owner" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article
19(6) of the Act;
"paper money" includes:
( a ) bank notes or currency notes, being current in Malta or
elsewhere;
( b ) money orders and postal orders; 
( c ) unobliterated postage stamps available for current use
in Malta or elsewhere;
( d ) treasury bills, bills of exchange, promissory notes,
2 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
cheques, credit notes which entitle the holder to money
or goods, and all orders and authorities for the
payment of money, whether negotiable or not;
( e ) bonds and coupons relating thereto, and other
securities for money, whether negotiable or not; and
( f ) coupons, vouchers, tokens, cards, stamps or similar
documents, exchangeable (singly or with other such
documents) for money, goods or service;
"postage stamp" means any stamp issued under the Act for
denoting postage or other fees or sums payable in respect of postal
articles and includes adhesive postage stamps and stamps printed,
embossed, impressed or otherwise indicated on any envelope, card,
wrapper, postcard or other article;
"postal form" means a form issued by or under the authority of
the Postmaster General;
"prescribed" means prescribed by these regulations;
"printed papers" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by
regulation 44(1);
"private delivery box" means a box installed in a Post Office and
in which postal articles, other than parcels, addressed to a box-
holder are placed to await collection by that box-holder or by his
authorised agent;
"private posting box" means a box, approved by the Postmaster
General, and installed on business premises, in hotels or other
premises, in which box postal articles, other than registered letters
and parcels, may be posted;
"supplier" means and includes a person authorised by
Government to import postal franking machines of a type and make
approved by the Postmaster General.
Application. 3. These regulations, except as otherwise provided, apply
only to postal articles and parcels posted in Malta for delivery to
any place in Malta.
Hours of business. 4. The hours of business at the General Post Office, the Parcel
Post Office, Branch Post Offices and Central Mail Room shall be as
specified in the Sixth Schedule.
Rates of postage. 5. There shall be charged and paid upon the postal articles
specified in the first column of the First Schedule the rates of
postage respectively specified in the second column thereof.
LETTER POST
Letter Post. 6.  For the purpose of regulations 7 to 122, both inclusive. a
postal article shall, unless otherwise specified, mean and include
any postal article other than a parcel.
Method of address.
Amended by:
L.N. 178 of 1991.
7. (1) Every postal article shall be legibly addressed, and the
address, whether handwritten or printed, shall run parallel to the
length of the envelope or card, leaving enough space above the
address for the postage stamps and postmarks.
(2) All locally addressed postal articles may include a
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 3
postcode, as indicated by the Postmaster General from time to time
on the notice board of the General Post Office in Valletta, which
shall be written immediately after the town or village of the
address:
Provided that although such locally addressed postal
articles which do not include such postcode shall still be delivered,
such articles may be delayed in the processing thereof.
(3) Postal articles, except when registered, may be addressed
to "the occupier" (or any similar designation) at any place where
there is delivery by postman.
(4) Telegraphic addresses are not acceptable.
(5) Nothing shall be written, printed or placed on the address
side of a postal article which is likely to impede its processing by
officers of the Post Office.
Affixing of postage 
stamps.
8. Postage stamps or franking machine impressions denoting
pre-payment of postage rates and postal fees shall be affixed, or
printed, as the case may be, on the upper right-hand corner of the
address side of the postal article.
Used envelopes not 
acceptable for 
transmission by 
post.
9. A postal article shall not be accepted for transmission by
post if it is enclosed in an envelope, wrapper or cover bearing
cancelled postage stamps, or postmarks or other evidence of
previous transmission through the post, except where such postal
article has been re-directed as provided in these regulations.
Certain cards to be 
enclosed.
10. Cards of the varieties known as "tinselled" and "beaded"
and cards with "pearling" decorations, shall not be accepted for
transmission by post unless enclosed in envelopes.
Panel (window) 
envelopes.
11. Envelopes with a transparent panel may be used provided
that -
( a ) the panel extends parallel to the length of the
envelope;
( b ) the panel is located not less than 40 mm from the top
edge of the envelope and not less than 15mm from the
left and right-hand bottom edges of the envelope;
( c ) the panel is not bordered by a coloured band or frame;
( d ) no writing or printing other than the address may be
displayed through the panel, and the address must
appear through the panel in such manner as to be
easily read; and
( e ) the enclosures are so folded that they cannot move
about in the envelope thereby causing the address to be
hidden.
Transparent 
envelopes.
12. Postal articles (except printed papers) in envelopes which
are wholly transparent (even if an address label is affixed thereon)
and envelopes which have an open panel or more than one panel are
not acceptable for transmission by post.
Prohibitions.
order to be transmitted by post, or delivered by post -
4 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
( a ) any postal article containing any explosive,
inflammable, dangerous, dirty, noxious or deleterious
substance; or
( b ) any postal article containing any sharp instrument or
any such other article or thing which might expose to
injury any person or which might soil or damage any
other postal article in the course of transmission by
post; or
( c ) any postal article which is seditious within the
meaning of any enactment relating to sedition; or
( d ) any postal article of any kind or form whatsoever
which is in any way threatening, offensive or libellous;
or
Cap. 9.
( e ) any postal article of any kind or form whatsoever
which is pornographic or obscene in accordance with
regulations made under article 222A of the Criminal
Code; or
( f ) any postal article containing any living creature other
than a creature accepted by the Postmaster General as
transmissible by post; or
( g ) any postal article containing any proposal, circular or
ticket relating to lotteries other than lotteries set up or
permitted by the Government; or
Cap. 9. ( h ) any postal article containing any imitation of a
currency note or of a bank note or any of the forged
instruments referred to in articles 174 and 175 of the
Criminal Code; or
( i ) any postal article containing or bearing any fictitious
stamp (not being a fictitious stamp which is authorised
to be made by or under Post Office regulations), or any
counterfeit impression of a stamping or franking
machine used under the direction or with the
permission of the Postmaster General or any
counterfeit of any other impression authorised by these
regulations for use to denote payment of postage or
fees; or
( j ) any postal article having thereon, or on the cover
thereof, any words, letters or marks which are used
without due authority but which signify or imply, or
may reasonably lead the recipient to believe, that the
postal article is sent on Government Service; or
( k ) any postal article of such size, form or colour or so
made up for transmission by post as to be likely, in the
opinion of the Postmaster General, to embarrass the
officers of the Post Office in dealing with the postal
article; or
( l ) any postal article having anything written, printed or
impressed upon or attached thereto which, either by
tending to prevent the easy and quick reading of the
address on the postal article or by inconvenient
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 5
proximity to the stamp or stamps used in the payment
of postage, or in any other way, is in itself, or in the
manner in which it is written, printed, impressed or
attached, likely, in the opinion of the Postmaster
General, to embarrass the officers of the Post Office in
dealing with the postal article; or
( m ) any postal article whereon the payment of postage or
fees purports to be denoted by any stamp or impression
which has been previously used to denote payment of
the postage or fees on any other postal article; or
( n ) any postal article bearing more than one address on the
address side of the article; or
( o ) any postal article containing any narcotic or
psychotropic substance or any other drug or medicine
unless its transmission by post is authorized by or
under any enactment or regulation.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1)(g)
relating to lotteries set-up or permitted by the Government, the
Postmaster General may refuse to transmit any postal article
relating to any such lottery as aforesaid if such article does not
conform with instructions relating thereto issued by a competent
authority and communicated to the Postmaster General; and in any
such case he may return it to the sender or otherwise deal with it as
he may deem fit.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation, "lottery" includes any
scheme for distributing prizes under which the recipients or the
number or the value of the prizes depend on a future uncertain
event or a combination of such events.
Postal articles for 
different persons.
14. (1) There shall not be posted, or tendered or made over in
order to be transmitted by post, or delivered by post any postal
article consisting of, or containing, two or more postal articles
directed to different persons with different addresses except upon
payment as provided in this regulation.
(2) When any such postal article is posted, or tendered or made
over in order to be transmitted by post, all postal articles contained
therein shall be transmissible by post upon pre-payment of the
relative postage in respect of each separate postal article and if the
postage is not so pre-paid the postal article shall be dealt with as
unpaid or insufficiently pre-paid.
Postal article 
containing 
different items.
15. Where a postal article consists of, or contains, two or more
articles which would separately be transmitted at different rates of
postage, the postal article is transmissible at the highest of such
rates, and if the postage is not pre-paid at that highest rate the
postal article shall be dealt with as an insufficiently pre-paid postal
article.
Closed 
correspondence.
16. A postal article having the character of actual or personal
correspondence or bearing or containing anything of such
character, or which is closed against inspection, shall not be
transmissible otherwise than as a letter; and any such postal article
bearing postage less than that required for a letter shall be treated
6 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
as an insufficiently pre-paid postal article.
Packing and 
posting.
17. Every postal article shall be made up and secured in such
manner as in the opinion of the Postmaster General is calculated to
prevent damage to any other postal article or parcel in the course of
transmission or to any receptacle in which the same is conveyed, or
injury to an officer of the Post Office or to any other person who
may deal with such postal article. In the event of such damage or
injury the sender shall be liable to pay the Postmaster General such
reasonable compensation as the latter shall determine.
Size and weight. 18. Save as the Postmaster General may either generally or in
any particular case allow, no postal article shall be posted,
transmitted or delivered by post unless it conforms in all respects to
the limits of size and weight specified in the Second Schedule.
Prepayment of 
postage and fees.
19. (1) Save as otherwise provided in these regulations, or as
the Postmaster General may direct, the postage and fees payable on
every postal article and the fees payable in respect of postal
facilities shall be pre-paid.
(2) The provisions of this regulation shall not apply to the
postage payable on business reply postal articles and to the postage
and fees payable on postal articles in respect of which the
Postmaster General has entered into an agreement with the senders
for the grant of credit facilities.
Method of 
pre-payment.
20. The pre-payment of postage and fees due under these
regulations shall be denoted -
( a ) by adhesive postage stamps; or
( b ) by impressions of franking machines operated under
the control and direction, or with the permission, of
the Postmaster General; or
( c ) by the use of a stamped envelope, cover, card or other
postal form, issued by the Postmaster General; or
( d ) by the use of printed postage stamps cut out of or
otherwise detached from an envelope, postcard,
wrapper, letter or other postal form, issued by the
Postmaster General; or
( e ) in such other manner as the Postmaster General may
from time to time permit.
Stamp vendors and 
licences.
21. Postage stamps shall be sold from the General Post Office
in Valletta, from any Branch Post Office, from Sub-Post Offices
and from such shops or places of business as are covered by a
licence issued by the Postmaster General for the sale of postage
stamps:
Provided that the sale of postage stamps abroad may be
made by agents appointed for the purpose under such terms and
conditions as the Postmaster General may think fit.
Purchase of 
abnormal 
quantities.
22. (1) When the quantity of postage stamps to be purchased
is greater than that normally purchased from counters of the Post
Office, or when other conditions make it so necessary, the
Postmaster General may request that a previous written demand for
these purchases be made, which demand shall contain particulars as
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 7
to the quantities and the denominations required.
(2) The Postmaster General may, at any time, by order affixed
on the notice boards of the General Post Office, Branch Post
Offices and Sub-Post Offices and published in the Gazette, require
a previous written demand for the purchase of any postage stamps
in excess of the amount specified in such order; the said order may
also specify the term within which the written demand is to be
made.
Reservation of 
stock.
23. Before meeting any written demand made to him in
accordance with the provisions of regulation 22, the Postmaster
General may assign to agents appointed in terms of regulation 21,
and reserve for sale on the counters of the General Post Office,
Branch Post Offices, Sub-Post Offices or at any other place
appointed by him for the purpose, such stocks of postage stamps as
he may consider necessary to meet the normal demands of
customers for small quantities.
Maximum quantity 
that can be sold.
24. The Postmaster General may determine the maximum
quantity of each denomination of postage stamps which may be
sold to any one person at any one time. 
Reduction of 
quantities.
25. When it is not possible to meet all the written demands
made in accordance with the provisions of regulation 22, the
Postmaster General may reduce the quantities requested in any such
demand in proportion to the stock available for the purpose.
Withdrawal of 
ordinary current 
issue.
26. During such time as any commemorative postage stamp is
on sale, the Postmaster General may cause to be withdrawn from
sale at any Post Office or Signpost Office counter such postage
stamps of the definitive current issue as are of the same
denomination as the commemorative stamp or stamps:
Provided, however, that the sale of such definitive current
stamps may be allowed for philatelic purposes.
Period of sale of 
commemorative 
issue.
27. Unless previously exhausted, commemorative postage
stamps shall remain on sale for such period as shall have been
previously notified in the Gazette:
Provided that the Postmaster General may, after the expiry
of such period, continue to supply stamps in respect of which a
written demand will have been received by him prior to the expiry
of such period.
Philatelic charges.
supply of stamps and postal stationery from the Philatelic Bureau
of the General Post Office, the fees as specified in the Third
Schedule.
Non-valid postage 
stamps.
29. There shall not be used to denote payment of postage or
fees any mutilated postage stamps, any postage-due stamps, or
postage stamps of a country other than Malta, nor shall such stamps
be accepted as valid for the pre-payment or part pre-payment of
postage.
Unpaid or 
underpaid postage.
30. A postal article posted without the postage being pre-paid
or when insufficiently pre-paid, shall be charged with double the
deficient postage and delivered to the addressee who shall be liable
8 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
to pay the said charge upon acceptance of the postal article; and if
in such case the postal article is refused by the addressee or
delivery of the postal article cannot be effected, the postal article
shall be returned to the sender who shall be liable to pay the
aforementioned charge.
Exemption from 
postage.
Amended by:
L.N. 183 of 1993.
31. (1) Postal articles posted in the service of the Government
shall bear a clear indication of the organisation from where they
originate, and payment of postage due shall be made in such
manner and subject to any rebates and conditions as otherwise
provided in these regulations and as the Postmaster General may
from time to time determine.
(2) No pre-payment of postage shall be necessary on postal
articles which are specifically exempted from the payment of
postage by  ad hoc  legislation.
(3) The sender of a postal article which is entitled to free
transmission by post shall not be exempt from paying the
prescribed registration fee and other postal fees due on such postal
article.
Bulk posting.
Amended by:
L.N. 56 of 1989.
32. When the number of postal articles to be posted by one
person is one hundred or more, and such articles are handed at a
Post Office, the pre-payment of postage may be made in cash, in
which case a receipt showing the date of posting, the rate of
postage on each article and the amount paid is issued:
Provided that if such postal articles are handed in less than
one hour before the time of closing of mails they may be delayed if
their despatch interferes with the scheduled despatch of other
postal articles. The sender may avoid such delay by the prior
sorting of these postal articles by localities and by placing them in
such a way that the address sides face the same direction.
Method of posting. 33. Except as otherwise provided by or under these regulations
or authorised by the Postmaster General, letters and other postal
articles shall be posted in post office letter-boxes provided for the
purpose, except that -
( a ) letters containing bank notes, coins or other valuables
shall be registered at a Post Office counter;
( b ) bulky packets which cannot be dropped in such post
office letter-boxes shall be handed in at a Post Office;
and
( c ) parcels shall be posted as provided for in regulation
123.
Ownership of 
postal articles.
34. Save as otherwise provided for in the Act or in these
regulations, a postal article shall remain the property of the sender
until it is delivered to the rightful owner.
Withdrawal from 
the post by sender.
35. (1) Where a sender applies for the withdrawal of a postal
article before delivery to the addressee, the Postmaster General
shall, if he considers the reasons for withdrawal are satisfactory,
give the necessary direction.
(2) A person making an application for the withdrawal of a
postal article shall, at the time of making the application, pay the
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 9
search fee laid down in the Third Schedule.
(3) The fee paid in accordance with the last preceding
subregulation shall not be refunded to the applicant if the postal
article is not found or if it is subsequently not withdrawn by the
said applicant.
(4) The postage and registration fee, if any, paid on a postal
article which is withdrawn in accordance with this regulation shall
not be refunded; but if the stamps affixed to any such postal article
have not been cancelled by an official postmark at the time it is
found, the postal article shall be returned with the stamps
uncancelled.
Delivery.
indicated on the address side of the said postal article.
(2) Subject and without prejudice to the provisions of
regulation 37, delivery to the addressee shall be deemed to be
completed when the postal article is placed in the appropriate
letter-box or passed through the slit cut for the purpose, or when it
is placed in the private delivery box rented by the addressee.
(3) When the addressee is a guest or a resident at a hotel,
lodging house, club. hospital, institution or place of work, a postal
article shall be deemed to have been delivered to the addressee if
delivered to the person who as owner or manager of any such place
as aforesaid or as agent for or an employee in any such place, is
considered to be responsible for receiving postal articles:
Provided that if the postal article so deemed to have been
delivered is not claimed by or forwarded to the addressee within
one month, the person responsible for or in charge of the hotel,
lodging house, club, hospital, institution or place of work shall in
the absence of contrary instructions of the addressee, return
forthwith the postal article to the Postmaster General who shall
dispose of such postal article as provided in these regulations:
Provided further that a postal article addressed to one
person in care of another shall, in the absence of written
instructions to the contrary from the addressee, be delivered at the
address of the person in whose care it is directed.
Premises to be 
provided with 
letter-boxes, etc.
Amended by:
L.N. 11 of 1989.
37. (1) All apartments shall be provided by the respective
owners with separate letter-boxes made to lock, one for each of
such apartment.
(2) Each such letter-box shall bear the number of the
apartment to which it refers and the name of the occupier of the
relative apartment.
(3) The separate letter-boxes shall be affixed within the
entrance hall or corridor near the main common entrance door or in
a place on the ground floor easily visible and freely accessible.
(4) All premises, other than apartments, which have their main
entrance more than 4.5 metres distant from the gate or other access
to the street, shall be provided with letter-boxes made to lock and
immediately accessible from the street.
(5) All other premises shall be provided with a posting slot
10 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
immediately accessible from the street:
Provided that the Postmaster General in special
circumstances may, in writing, exempt persons from complying
with the provisions of this subregulation.
(6) A postal article, other than a registered or insured postal
article, shall be deemed to have been duly delivered when such
postal article has been placed in a letter-box required to be
provided under this regulation which bears the same name and/or
address as is indicated on the postal article.
(7) The Postmaster General may refuse to deliver any postal
article where the premises to which it is addressed is not provided
with a letter-box as required by the foregoing provisions of this
regulation or the letter-box provided is such that the postal article
cannot be placed in the box through an opening in the box adequate
for the purpose; and in any such case the Postmaster General may
return the postal article to the sender under such conditions as he
may deem fit, or otherwise deal with it as he may deem appropriate.
Poste Restante. 38. (1) A postal article may be addressed to the Post Office to
be called for, provided it is clearly marked Poste Restante or "To be
called for".
(2) Any postal article marked Poste Restante or "To be called
for" shall bear the full name of the addressee. The use of initials,
figures, fictitious or assumed names, or conventional marks of any
kind instead of the name of the addressee is not permissible, and
any postal article so addressed shall be deemed to be insufficiently
addressed and shall be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office for
disposal.
(3) Save as the Postmaster General may otherwise direct, the
Poste Restante service shall be available only to:
( a ) travellers, tourists and foreigners of no fixed abode; or
( b ) persons who reside within an area which is not
accessible for delivery by postman; or
( c ) persons who in the opinion of the Postmaster General
cannot for a good and sufficient reason conveniently
receive their correspondence by postman or through a
private delivery box.
(4) The persons referred to in the preceding subregulations,
other than persons who reside in an area which is not accessible for
delivery by postman, shall not be entitled to have correspondence
delivered at a post office, or addressed to a post office, to be called
for, for a period longer than three months.
(5) The Postmaster General may refuse to deliver any postal
article marked Poste Restante or "To be called for" unless the caller
furnishes proof of his identity and any other particulars that may be
required to identify him as the rightful addressee of the postal
article.
Postal articles 
addressed to a 
deceased person.
39. When the Postmaster General is satisfied that a postal
article is addressed to a deceased person, he may, in his discretion,
either - 
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 11
( a ) deliver or re-direct such postal article upon a request
in writing by -
(i) the executors named in the will of the addressee;
or
(ii) the surviving spouse of the addressee; or
(iii) the heirs of the addressee; or
(iv) the administrator of the estate of the addressee
or other person conducting the affairs of that
estate; or
(v) any other interested person, or
( b ) retain such postal article for a period of six months and
if in the meantime no request in writing is made by any
person entitled at law to receive it or who may
otherwise properly receive it, that postal article shall
be deemed undeliverable and shall be dealt with as
provided in these regulations.
Post articles in 
dispute.
40. (1) When a member of a firm or partnership or of a
dissolved firm or partnership, or a person who claims to be entitled
to receive the mail of a firm or partnership or of a dissolved firm or
partnership, or of a society, association, institution or other body,
and who satisfies the Postmaster General that he has reasonable
grounds for such claim, gives notice to the Postmaster General not
to deliver to any person other than himself any postal article
addressed to the firm or partnership or the society, association,
institution or other body, the Postmaster General (unless he is
satisfied as to who is entitled to delivery) may refuse to deliver all
such postal articles until an agreement is arrived at between the
persons interested as to delivery, or until the right of one or other of
the parties concerned to receive such postal articles has been
determined by a competent authority.
(2) In default of such agreement or in the absence of such a
determination, the postal articles shall be marked "In Dispute" and
shall be returned to the sender after the expiration of seven days, or
such other longer period as the Postmaster General may allow,
from the date of receipt by the Post Office unless the postal articles
bear requests for their return at an earlier date.
Re-direction.
Amended by:
L.N. 139 of 1993.
41. (1) Any postal article, other than a business reply article,
may be redirected from its original address to the same addressee at
any other address either by an officer of the Post Office or after
delivery at the original address.
(2) An application to the Postmaster General for re-direction
of postal articles shall be made on the prescribed form as shown in
the Fourth Schedule.
(3) An application to the Postmaster General for re-direction
of postal articles shall be signed by the person or persons to whom
the postal articles are addressed, or by the person having the legal
representation of a company, firm or body corporate or
unincorporate in respect of postal articles addressed to such
company, firm or body; or by the person having paternal authority
over, or legal custody of, minor children in respect of postal
12 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
articles addressed to such minor children; or by a person duly
authorised by another person in respect of postal articles addressed
to such other person.
(4) No application for the re-direction of a postal article shall
be made unless the addressee has actually changed his address
permanently or temporarily, and if such application is made the
Postmaster General shall not comply with it:
Provided that if the forwarding address of such a re-
direction request is that of a Post Office private delivery box, the
above provisions shall not apply.
(5) No application shall be made for the re-direction of postal
articles addressed to a guest or a resident or an employee at a hotel,
lodging house, club, hospital, institution or place of work, and if
such application is made the Postmaster General shall not comply
with it.
(6) A postal article which is re-directed on the day of its
delivery to its original address or on the day next following
(Sunday and public holidays being disregarded for this purpose)
shall be transmitted by post free of any charge or postage in respect
of such transmission if it is either handed to an officer of the Post
Office or dropped in a post office letter-box with an indication of
the new address:
Provided that the provisions of this subregulation shall not
apply if before re-direction the postal article has been opened or
tampered with (other than by the substitution of a new address) or
if the name or address of the original addressee has been rendered
illegible:
Provided further that if the postal article is re-directed to a
place outside Malta and the amount of postage paid is insufficient
to cover transmission by surface mail to the new destination, it
shall be taxed and treated as an insufficiently pre-paid postal
article.
(7) Re-direction shall not be effected in the case of a postal
article which bears on the address side the instructions of the
sender that the postal article is not to be re-directed, in which case
the postal article shall be treated as undeliverable.
(8) An application for re-direction or an extension thereof
shall be valid for a period of twelve months and shall be complied
with upon payment in advance of the charges specified in the Third
Schedule.
(9) All applications to extend a period of re-direction must be
made at least fifteen days prior to the expiry date of the existing re-
direction order.
Undelivered postal 
articles.
42. A postal article which, in the opinion of the Postmaster
General, cannot for a valid reason be delivered to the addressee or
which has been refused by the addressee or which has been duly
delivered but is returned unopened to the Post Office with an
indication that the addressee has refused delivery or which cannot
be delivered by reason of any provision of the Act or of these
regulations, shall be treated as an undeliverable postal article and
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 13
shall be dealt with as provided in these regulations.
Disposal of 
undeliverable 
postal articles.
43. (1) An undeliverable postal article which bears a legible
return address on the outside shall be returned unopened and
appropriately endorsed to that address.
(2) An undeliverable postal article which does not bear a
legible return address on the outside shall be opened by the
Postmaster General and if the address of the sender can be
ascertained, it shall then be returned to the sender under official
cover:
Provided that if such postal article is found to contain
paper money, coins or any other valuables, it shall be compulsorily
registered at the expense of the sender before being so returned,
and if the sender refuses to pay the postal charges due on that postal
article the Postmaster General shall dispose of it as he may think fit
without prejudice to his right to claim from the sender those postal
charges.
(3) An undeliverable postal article, which has no indication of
the sender and which, in the opinion of the Postmaster General,
contains items of value or importance shall be recorded in the
appropriate register and shall, unless claimed, be kept at the Post
Office for a period not exceeding one year from the day on which
the postal article is so recorded and thereafter be disposed of in
such manner as the Postmaster General may deem fit.
PRINTED MATTER
Printed papers.
Amended by:
L.N. 146 of 1991;
L.N. 183 of 1993.
44. (1) Printed papers means impressions or copies produced
on paper, parchment, card or similar material, by means of
letterpress printing, engraving, lithography, photography or any
other readily recognisable mechanical process ordinarily used to
produce a number of identical copies, and includes printed
circulars, notices produced in imitation of typewritten original by
any of the said mechanical processes but not copies produced by
typewriter (top or carbon copies), tracings or handstamps.
(2) Any printed paper whose text has been modified after
printing or which bears any marks capable of constituting a
correspondence shall be deemed to be a letter and shall be
transmissible at letter rates:
Provided that manuscripts or typescripts, with or without
corrections, intended for publication shall be deemed to be printed
papers:
Provided further that cards, including greeting cards and
invitation cards, but excluding postcards, shall be deemed to be
printed papers even if they contain any marks capable of
constituting a correspondence.
(3) Save as the Postmaster General may either generally or in
any particular case allow, no postal article consisting of printed
paper shall be posted, transmitted or delivered by post unless it
conforms in all respects to the limits of size and weight specified in
the Second Schedule.
(4) Every postal article consisting of printed paper shall be
14 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
prominently marked "Printed Matter" and shall be subject to
examination in the post, and if posted without a cover shall not be
fastened or otherwise treated so as to prevent easy examination. A
covered printed paper shall be unfastened or, save as the
Postmaster General may either generally or in any particular case
allow, so packed that the contents can be easily examined without
breaking any seal or tearing any paper or cutting any string or
separating any adhering surfaces.
(5) Printed papers may be posted, transmitted or delivered by
post under sealed, transparent or opaque cover subject to the
following conditions:
( a ) the Postmaster General may request the sender or the
addressee to open the items or some of the items so
packed for verification of contents;
( b ) the address of the addressee, of the sender, and the
postage paid imprint, if placed under the transparent or
opaque cover, shall be so placed as to be easily legible
through the said cover; the wrapping shall include, on
the address side, a sufficiently wide part on which
service instructions, any reasons for non-delivery or,
when applicable, the addressee’s new address, can be
written by hand, or shown by means of a label or by
any other process as on paper and a sufficiently wide
part of the wrapping on the address side must have the
properties of paper.
(6) Printed papers wrapped in plastic may also be pre-paid by
means of franking machine impressions made on a self-adhesive
label, or in some indelible way, on the actual wrapping.
(7) No printed paper shall contain or bear any communication
in the nature of a letter even though such communication does not
fall within the definition of a letter or is otherwise allowed by these
regulations.
(8) No paper money shall be posted, transmitted or delivered
by post as printed paper or in a postal article consisting of printed
paper.
(9) The Postmaster General may delay the despatch or delivery
of printed papers whenever he deems it necessary to do so in order
to secure the due despatch or delivery of letter mails.
(10) Printed papers which do not conform to any or all of the
conditions and limitations specified in the foregoing subregulations
shall be transmitted at letter rates, and, if posted and pre-paid at
printed paper rates, shall be deemed to be insufficiently prepaid.
(11) When the number of postal articles consisting of printed
papers posted at any one time exceeds the amount of ten thousand
(10,000), the Postmaster General may authorise that such postal
articles be transmitted at a discounted postage rate of 20% of the
printed matter rate:
Provided that the foregoing provision shall only apply if
such postal articles are presented for posting in a pre-sorted state
according to the postcode or according to the town or village shown
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 15
on the address:
Provided further that the Postmaster General may grant
discounts up to a maximum of 20% of the rate of postage of other
categories of mail if postings in excess of ten thousand (10,000) are
made at any one time and the postal articles are presented for
posting in a pre-sorted state according to the postcode or to the
town or village shown on the address.
(12) The Postmaster General may recommend to the Minister
other rebates of postage to all categories of mail if such categories
are also posted at any one time in numbers in excess of one hundred
thousand (100,000) and pre-sorted according to the postcode or to
the town or village shown on the address.
Newspapers.
are transmissible at the specially reduced rate of postage when they
consist of publications falling within the definition of a newspaper,
are registered with the Press Registrar and with the Post Office, and
are prominently marked "Newspaper Post".
Definition of 
newspaper and 
periodical.
46. For the purpose of these regulations, a newspaper means a
publication that is printed and published in Malta and consisting
wholly or in part of political or other news or of articles relating
thereto or to other current topics, with or without advertisements
and whether printed for sale or for gratuitous distribution; and
includes a periodical that is printed and published in Malta for the
dissemination of information of public interest or that is devoted to
literature, the sciences, arts, religion, and to technical or practical
subjects.
Registration of 
newspaper with 
Post Office.
47. (1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, a
newspaper shall, upon payment of the registration fee specified in
the Third Schedule, be registered with the Post Office.
(2) To qualify for registration with the Post Office, a
newspaper shall -
( a ) be published in parts or numbers at regular intervals of
not more than three months, every part or number
being deemed to be a separate newspaper;
( b ) have the full title and date of publication printed at the
top of the first page, have each page consecutively
numbered, and the whole or part of the title and the
date of publication at the top of every subsequent
page;
( c ) consist of printed paper sheets without board, cloth,
leather or other substantial binding; and
( d ) be of Maltese origin.
(3) The Postmaster General shall decide whether a publication
is eligible for registration with the Post Office in accordance with
the provisions of this regulation and his decision shall be final.
(4) A newspaper which, after registration with the Post Office,
shall cease to be registered with the Press Registrar or shall cease
to be a newspaper within the meaning of regulation 46, or shall fail
or cease to comply with or satisfy the provisions of subregulations
16 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
(1) and (2), shall cease to be so registered with the Post Office.
Conditions of 
posting of 
newspaper.
48. (1) Every registered newspaper shall be subject to
examination in the post; and if posted without a cover shall not be
fastened or otherwise treated so as to prevent easy examination.
The cover or envelope of a covered registered newspaper shall be
unfastened or (save as the Postmaster General may either generally
or in any particular case allow) so adapted that the contents can be
easily examined without breaking any seal or tearing any paper or
cutting any string or separating any surfaces.
(2) Save as the Postmaster General may either generally or in
any particular case allow, every registered newspaper posted in an
envelope or cover shall be so folded and covered as to permit the
title and date of issue to be easily inspected.
(3) No article which is not part of the newspaper shall be
posted in, or in the cover or envelope with, the newspaper.
Supplement to 
newspaper.
49. (1) A publication shall be deemed to be a supplement to a
newspaper and to be part thereof and transmissible by post at the
newspaper rate of postage if -
( a ) it is printed on paper and consists wholly or mainly of
reading matter like that of the newspaper or wholly or
partly of pictorial matter illustrative of articles in the
newspaper or partly of advertisements;
( b ) it is enclosed with the newspaper to which it is a
supplement; and
( c ) the heading "Supplement" and the date and title of the
newspaper to which it is a supplement are printed at
the top of every page.
(2) A supplement to a newspaper shall not exceed in size or
weight the newspaper to which it is a supplement.
(3) A publication designed primarily for advertising purposes
shall not be deemed to be a supplement to a newspaper within the
meaning of this regulation and if posted with the newspaper shall
not be transmitted at newspaper rate.
ARTICLES FOR THE BLIND
Articles for the 
blind.
50. (1) No postage shall be payable on postal articles
consisting of articles for the use of the blind provided that -
( a ) the postal articles are sent by or addressed to a blind
person or an institution or organization that is
recognized by the Postmaster General as an institution
or organization which serves the blind;
( b ) every postal article is marked on the outside "Articles
for the Blind" and bears the name and address of the
sender;
( c ) every postal article is posted either without a cover or
in a cover which can be easily removed for the purpose
of examination;
( d ) no postal article contains any article not being an
article for the use of the blind;
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 17
( e ) no postal article contains any communication or
inscription either in writing or printing other than
instructions for the use of any enclosed article; and
( f ) the postal article complies with the limits of size and
weight as specified in the Second Schedule.
(2) For the purpose of this regulation a postal article shall
include a parcel containing solely articles for the use of the blind.
Definition of 
articles for the 
blind.
51. In these regulations. the expression "articles for the use of
the blind" means -
( a ) books and papers (including letters to and from blind
persons) impressed or otherwise prepared for the use
of the blind;
( b ) papers posted to any person for the purpose of being so
impressed or prepared;
( c ) aids for the teaching of Braille to the blind;
( d ) plates for embossing literature for the blind;
( e ) any form of speech recording for the use of the blind;
and
( f ) Braille instructional devices, including tools, precision
instruments and games (including card games), and
includes any other article which the Postmaster
General considers to be an article for the use of the
blind.
POSTCARDS
Postcards.
weight as specified in the Second Schedule.
(2) No writing or printing except the address shall appear on
the right-hand half of the address side of a postcard.
(3) On the left-hand half of the address side of a postcard only
messages and conventional formulas of courtesy expressed in not
more than five words or five initials are allowed.
(4) Postcards which do not comply with any or all of the
conditions specified in the foregoing subregulations shall be
transmitted at letter rates, and if posted and pre-paid at postcard
rates, shall be deemed to be insufficiently pre-paid.
(5) Postcards shall not be eligible for registration.
POSTAL FACILITIES
General.
the charges specified in the Third Schedule and the said facilities
shall be subject to the conditions and provisions contained in these
regulations. 
(2) The postal facilities referred to in the Third Schedule shall
be provided by the Postmaster General at such times, during such
periods and at such Post Offices, in such circumstances, or on such
conditions (not being inconsistent with the provisions of these
regulations) as the Postmaster General may from time to time
consider expedient.
18 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
Certificate of 
posting.
54. (1) Any person who wishes to have a record that an un-
registered postal article has been posted to a particular address
shall hand in the postal article at a Post Office and a certificate of
posting shall be issued.
(2) The charge for the certificate as specified in the Third
Schedule shall be payable by means of postage stamps affixed by
the sender to the certificate.
Business Reply 
Service.
55. The Postmaster General may, upon compliance with the
conditions laid down in regulation 56, grant a licence for a
Business Reply Service and authorize the payment of postage
payable on postal articles by a person other than the sender of those
postal articles.
Conditions. 56. (1) An application for the grant of a Business Reply
Service licence shall be made in writing to the Postmaster General.
(2) The application shall be accompanied by complete proofs
of the proposed design of the cards, envelopes, folders or gummed
addressed labels (whether or not embodying an advertising design)
which the licensee intends to use.
(3) A charge as specified in the Third Schedule shall be
payable by the licensee over and above the normal postage in
respect of every Business Reply Service item returned by post to
the said licensee.
(4) The licensee shall effect in advance with the Postmaster
General an adequate deposit, which shall not be less than Lm5 and
not more than Lm100 to cover the estimated amount of charges
likely to accrue during a reasonable period.
(5) The design of the cards, envelopes, folders or labels shall
conform with the following pattern and be printed in black:
( a ) a panel containing the licence number shall be printed
in a position not less than 40 mm from the top edge of
the cards, envelopes, folders or labels;
( b ) the full name and address of the licensee shall be
printed parallel to the length of the card, envelope,
folder or label, below the panel containing the licence
number;
( c ) the words "Do not affix postage stamps if posted in
Malta, Gozo and Comino" shall be printed in the top
right-hand corner;
( d ) the words "Postage will be paid by the licensee" shall
be printed in the top left-hand corner; provided that the
name of the licensee may be used instead of the word
"licensee";
( e ) the face of the cards, envelopes, folders or labels shall
bear two heavy black parallel vertical lines not less
than 5 mm in width, 30 mm in length, and 20 mm
apart; the outer edge of the right-hand line shall be 10
mm from the right-hand edge of the card, envelope,
folder or label;
( f ) cards shall be of material not less than 0.25 mm thick
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 19
and comply with the maximum and minimum sizes of
postcards specified in the Second Schedule;
( g ) the printing on cards, envelopes, folders or labels shall
not be in imitation of typewriting;
( h ) adhesive labels shall not be less than 140 mm by 90
mm.
(6) Save as otherwise provided in this regulation, business
reply cards, envelopes, folders and labels shall be subject to the
other provisions of these regulations except that such items shall
not be redirected after delivery at the Business Reply address and,
if re-transmitted, shall be enclosed in a cover and fresh postage
paid.
Registration.
postal article, except a parcel, may be registered.
(2) A postal article intended for transmission by registered
post shall be handed for registration to an officer at a Post Office
and an official receipt obtained therefor.
(3) The fee, as specified in the Third Schedule, chargeable for
the registration of a postal article shall be pre-paid in postage
stamps affixed to the postal article or by means of franking
machine impressions.
Packing.
post shall be made up in a reasonably strong cover appropriate to
its contents and the contents shall be adequately packed to prevent
damage in the course of transmission.
(2) Adhesive tape bearing in print the name of the sender may
be used for sealing items submitted for registration, and if
transparent adhesive tape is used to seal such items, at least two
signatures of the sender shall be applied under the tape or tapes.
(3) Postal articles sealed with coloured adhesive tape shall not
be eligible for registration.
(4) Except as the Postmaster General may either generally or
in any particular case allow, postal articles having affixed thereon
address labels shall not be eligible for registration.
Method of address.
postal article is directed shall be printed or written fully and
correctly on the cover and shall not be written in pencil other than a
copying-ink pencil.
Receipt for 
registered postal 
articles.
60. On the delivery of a registered postal article the addressee,
his representative, or a member of the household shall, unless
instructions to the contrary are given to the Postmaster General by
the addressee, give a written receipt therefor on the appropriate
form; and when such a receipt is not obtained, the postal article
shall be considered as undelivered.
Advice of delivery.
posting arrange for the advice of its delivery to be sent to him upon
payment of the fee specified in the Third Schedule, which fee shall
be pre-paid in postage stamps affixed to the Advice of Delivery
Card:
20 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
Provided that any enquiry, made within twelve months
from the date of posting, regarding the disposal of such an item
shall be exempted from the enquiry fee as specified in the Third
Schedule.
Re-direction of 
registered postal 
articles.
62. When a registered postal article has been delivered and a
receipt obtained in accordance with the provisions of regulation 60,
it shall not be re-directed as provided for in regulation 41(6):
Provided that the Postmaster General may, in exceptional
circumstances, re-direct the said registered postal article if it is
handed to any officer of the Post Office not later than the day, next
following delivery (Sunday and other public holidays being
disregarded for this purpose).
Posting out of 
course.
63. If any registered postal article is, after delivery, dropped
into a letter-box for re-direction it shall become liable to a
surcharge of a single rate of postage and to a fresh registration fee.
Compulsory 
registration.
64. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 58 and
59, if any postal article having written or impressed on it or on its
envelope or cover the word "registered", or any other word, phrase
or mark conveying the impression that the postal article is
registered or is intended to be registered, is found in the post or is
left at a Post Office, it shall be registered.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 58 and 59,
where an unregistered postal article is found in the post to contain -
( a ) any uncrossed money order or postal order in which
the name of the payee has not been inserted; or
( b ) any cheque or dividend warrant which is uncrossed
and payable to bearer; or
( c ) any bearer security; or
( d ) any bank note, currency note or coin being current in
Malta or elsewhere; or
( e ) any unobliterated postage stamps of a total value of
Lm 1 or over; or
( f ) any paper money as is mentioned in paragraphs ( d ), ( e )
and ( f ) of the definition thereof in regulation 2; or
( g ) platinum, gold or silver, whether or not manufactured,
precious stones and other valuable articles,
it shall be registered.
Surcharge. 65. (1) Any postal article which is subject to compulsory
registration shall be charged the registration fee and double the
deficient postage, if any, and shall be forwarded to the addressee or
returned to the sender, as the case may be; and any amount of
postage which may have been pre-paid in respect of any postal
article in excess of the ordinary postage shall be reckoned as
payment or part-payment of the registration fee.
(2) When a postal article so surcharged is tendered to the
addressee or sender and he refuses or fails to pay the charges to
which the postal article has become liable, the postal article may be
dealt with or disposed of in such a manner as the Postmaster
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 21
General may think fit without prejudice to the Postmaster General’s
right to collect such charges from the sender.
Enquiries and 
compensation.
66. Enquiries concerning an alleged non-delivery, damage or
loss of a postal article, whether registered or not, shall be made on
the form prescribed in the Eighth Schedule subject to the following
conditions:
( a ) the enquiry must be made before the lapse of twelve
months from the date of posting and must be
accompanied by a fee as specified in the Third
Schedule, which fee shall be payable in postage
stamps affixed to the said prescribed form;
( b ) no compensation is payable on unregistered postal
articles other than parcels;
( c ) in the case of registered postal articles, the enquiry
must be accompanied by the official registration
receipt issued at the time of posting.
Damage/loss 
certificate.
67. The addressee of a postal article may request the issue of a
certificate when it is established that the postal article has been
damaged, lost or destroyed while in the custody of the Post Office;
such certificate shall be issued on payment of a fee as prescribed in
the Third Schedule.
Post Office 
liability.
68. (1) Except in cases of loss through  force   majeure , the
Postmaster General shall pay an indemnity not exceeding the
amount fixed in the Third Schedule when it is proved to his
satisfaction that a postal article duly admitted for registration or
compulsory registration has been lost, damaged or destroyed whilst
in the custody of the Post Office.
(2) The decision of the Postmaster General on all questions of
compensation payable in respect of registered postal articles shall
be final.
FRANKING MACHINES
Licence to use 
franking machines.
69. (1) No person shall use a franking machine without a
licence issued by the Postmaster General.
(2) An application for a licence to use a franking machine shall
be made in writing by local suppliers of such machines to the
Postmaster General on behalf of a prospective user and shall
contain a clear description of the machine in such detail as the
Postmaster General may require.
(3) Suppliers of franking machines shall forward to the
Postmaster General not less frequently than once every six months,
or when otherwise required by the Postmaster General a certificate
of the good condition of such franking machines sold by them.
(4) Subject to the provisions of these regulations, the
Postmaster General may issue such licence, duly signed by him, as
specified in the Ninth Schedule, for such time and under such
conditions as he may deem fit and may also require from the
applicant such security as he may determine to make good for any
loss of postage arising from any wrongful use of the franking
machine.
22 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
(5) The Postmaster General may at any time, and upon given
prior written notice to the licensee, add to, alter or delete any
condition of the licence.
Dies of approved 
design.
70. Any die which is to be used in a franking machine for
making impressions denoting the value of the postage pre-paid
and the post-marking on the postal article shall be of the design
approved by the Postmaster General and shall include such
identification number or other marking, as may be required or
allowed by the Postmaster General.
Franking machines 
to be pre-set and 
sealed by 
Postmaster 
General.
71. (1) The licensee shall not make use of a franking machine
unless such machine has been previously set by the Postmaster
General to indicate the amount already pre-paid by the licensee,
and for such purpose the licensee shall take the franking machine to
such Post Office and at such time as the Postmaster General shall
determine.
(2) The Postmaster General may seal any part of a franking
machine before it is used by a licensee and such seal shall not be
broken or removed in any way except by or under the authority of
the Postmaster General.
Repairs of franking 
machines.
72. The licensee shall not effect any repairs or cause any
repairs to be made to a franking machine without the prior written
permission of the Postmaster General and subject to such
conditions as the Postmaster General may impose.
Inspection of 
franking machines.
73. The Postmaster General may inspect any franking machine
at all reasonable times without any prior notice to the licensee.
Refund of franking 
machines 
impressions.
74. (1) Upon an application in writing by the licensee, the
Postmaster General shall refund by means of a credit note any
amount which represents the value of impressions which are
defective or made in error or placed on postal articles which for any
valid reason were not tendered or made over in order to be
transmitted through the post, subject to a deduction of five  per
centum  of the face value of the said impressions.
(2) Such refund shall only be made if the application is made
within two working days from the date of the impression in respect
of which that refund is requested and such application is
accompanied by the entire envelope, label, wrapper, or other cover
bearing the impression or the impression slip as the case may be.
Licensee to submit 
statements.
75. (1) The licensee shall deposit in the Post Office indicated
in his licence all postal articles bearing on them the impressions
made by his franking machine.
(2) Such postal articles shall be accompanied by a written
statement signed by the licensee and showing the reading on his
franking machine after postmarking such postal articles.
(3) On every first working day of the week the licensee shall
submit to the Postmaster General a written statement showing the
final daily readings of the franking machine for the preceding
week; such statement shall be in the form which the Postmaster
General may from time to time determine.
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 23
Articles irregularly 
impressed by 
franking machines.
76. Any postal article impressed by a franking machine in
contravention of these regulations or of the conditions specified in
the licence and subsequently posted shall be deemed to be a postal
article on which the postage is unpaid and shall be surcharged
accordingly.
Recovery of loss of 
revenue.
77. Any loss of revenue due to Government arising from the
improper use of a franking machine or the failure of such machine
to record accurately the value of the impressions made shall be
considered as a civil debt due by the licensee to the Postmaster
General and shall be recoverable as such.
Penalties.
provisions of regulations 69, 70, 71, 72 and 75, or contravenes or
fails to comply with any condition of a licence issued under
regulation 69, or who obstructs or is responsible for obstructing any
officer of the Post Office in connection with any inspection as is
mentioned in regulation 73, shall be guilty of an offence and shall,
on conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) of not less than two liri
and not exceeding fifty liri:
Provided that nothing in this regulation shall affect the
operation of any other law in respect of an act or omission under
such law liable to a punishment higher than that laid down in this
regulation or in respect of any offence not specifically provided for
in this regulation.
Revocation of 
licence.
79. The Postmaster General may revoke any licence whenever:
( a ) the licensee contravenes any of these regulations
relating to franking machines or of the conditions of
the licence issued under regulation 69; or
( b ) if the franking machine in respect of which a licence
has been issued is deemed by the Postmaster General
to be mechanically unsatisfactory or improperly used.
Notice to licensee.
General may send to the licensee in connection with the provisions
of these regulations relating to franking machines or the licence
issued in connection therewith shall be deemed to have been duly
notified to the licensee if delivered by registered post to the address
of the licensee as appearing in the licence.
SUB-POST OFFICES
Establishment of 
Sub-Post Offices.
81. There shall be established Sub-Post Offices at such places,
at such premises and from such dates as shall be notified from time
to time in the Gazette. 
Hours of work and 
business 
transactions.
82. The times of opening and closing of Sub-Post Offices shall
be as specified in the Seventh Schedule.
Business 
transactions.
83. Save as the Postmaster General may otherwise direct, the
following transactions shall be carried out in Sub-Post Offices:
( a ) sale of stamps and postal stationery;
( b ) issue and encashment of Postal Orders;
( c ) issue and encashment of Money Orders;
( d ) posting of parcels;
24 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
( e ) registration of postal articles;
( f ) encashment of Dividend Warrants (up to £50 sterling);
( g ) payment of telephone bills;
( h ) payment of Postcheques; and
( i ) any other business, as transacted at Branch Post
Offices, which the Postmaster General may from time
to time direct.
Management of 
Sub-Post Offices.
84. Each Sub-Post Office shall be managed by a
Sub-Postmaster.
Appointment of 
Sub-Postmaster.
85. (1) The Minister shall appoint Sub-Postmasters from
among candidates following a call for applications in the Gazette.
(2) Any such appointment shall be made on the
recommendation of a selection board to be appointed by the
Minister.
Eligibility for 
appointment.
86. No person shall be eligible for appointment as Sub-
Postmaster unless he is -
( a ) a citizen of Malta;
( b ) not under 18 years of age on the closing date for
applications;
( c ) of good moral character; and
( d ) in possession of such a standard of education as will be
considered sufficient to enable him to carry out his
duties efficiently.
Nature of 
appointment.
87. The appointment of Sub-Postmasters shall be on an agency
and temporary basis and may be terminated or suspended by the
Minister at any time.
Relinquishment of 
appointment.
88. (1) A Sub-Postmaster shall not relinquish his appointment
without giving six months’ previous notice in writing to the
Postmaster General.
(2) Should a Sub-Postmaster fail to comply with the provision
contained in the foregoing subregulation, he shall be liable to
forfeit to Government the security referred to in regulation 97.
Conditions of 
appointment.
89. A Sub-Postmaster shall not be entitled to any sick or
vacation leave at the expense of the Government, to any claim to an
established appointment, or to any compensation whatsoever for
loss of office or termination of appointment.
Provision of office 
accommodation, 
etc.
90. Sub-Postmasters shall provide at their own expense office
accommodation, furniture, fittings and lighting to the satisfaction
of the Postmaster General.
Employment of 
assistants and 
substitutes.
Amended by:
L.N. 167 of 1993.
91. (1) Sub-Postmasters shall personally conduct all postal
business:
Provided that, with the previous permission in writing of
the Postmaster General, they may employ one or more assistants
and, in case of sickness or for any other just cause, a substitute to
replace them.
(2) The employment of assistants and of substitutes shall be
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 25
made at the expense of the Sub-Postmaster at such rates of pay and
on such conditions of employment as may from time to time be
prescribed under any enactment or regulation.
(3) During their absence from the premises, Sub-Postmasters
shall remain responsible for the proper management of their
Sub-Post Office.
(4 The Postmaster General may, for a just cause, authorise at
his discretion, that a Sub-Post Office be closed for a period of not
more than twelve consecutive working days annually. A request to
this effect is to be made in writing by a Sub-Postmaster and is to
reach the Postmaster General at least three weeks in advance of the
first proposed day of closure.
(5) When a Sub-Postmaster fails, for any reason, to open the
Sub-Post Office for the transaction of business as provided in the
Seventh Schedule, the Postmaster General shall have the right to
take any such measures as he may deem necessary, at the expense
of the Sub-Postmaster concerned, in order to ensure the continuity
of the business.
Obligations and 
duties of Sub-
Postmasters.
92. Sub-Postmasters, assistants and substitutes shall, for the
purposes of the provisions of the Act, be considered as officers of
the Post Office, and shall comply with all the rules and regulations
made under that Act as well as with all such instructions and
directions as may from time to time be issued by the Postmaster
General for the proper custody of valuables, the handling and
treatment of postal articles, the issue and encashment of Postal and
Money Orders, the sale of postage stamps and postal stationery,
payment of Postcheques, encashment of Dividend Warrants, the
receipt of telephone payments, and any other business transacted at
the Sub-post Offices. 
Termination of 
employment of 
assistants and 
substitutes.
93. The Postmaster General has the right to require Sub-
Postmasters to suspend or discharge any assistant or substitute
who, in his opinion, is no longer suitable.
Fixed 
remuneration and 
commission.
94. (1) Sub-Postmasters shall be entitled to the fixed
remuneration and commissions as specified in the Seventh
Schedule.
(2) The Minister may, from time to time, by notice published
in the Gazette, vary or amend the entitlement to the fixed
remuneration and the rates of commission prescribed in the Seventh
Schedule:
Provided that, if any such variation or amendment amounts
to a reduction of the remuneration or of the rates of commission, it
shall not come into effect before the lapse of fifteen days from the
date of publication of the aforesaid notice.
Permission to 
undertake 
business.
95. (1) Saving the provisions of subregulation (2), and subject
to the previous permission in writing of the Postmaster General,
Sub-Postmasters shall not be precluded from engaging in trade or
carrying on a private business in the same premises as the Sub-Post
Office, provided separate accommodation is available.
(2) No Sub-Postmaster, his assistant or his substitute may
engage directly or indirectly in any of the following kinds of
26 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
business:
( a ) banking or money lending;
( b ) business connected with societies which involve or
admit the receipt of money on deposit;
( c ) business connected with a parcel delivery company or
with other carriers of parcels;
( d ) business of a company or agency for the collection and
distribution of news;
( e ) business dealing in postage stamps; and
( f ) generally, business similar to that which the Sub-
Postmaster is to perform in accordance with the
provisions of regulation 83.
Prohibitions. 96. No Sub-Postmaster, his assistant or his substitute may be
the owner, either wholly or jointly, of any newspaper, nor shall he
take part in editing, printing or managing any newspaper or
undertake work as newspaper correspondent.
Security to be 
provided by 
Sub-Postmasters.
97. Sub-Postmasters shall provide a security for an amount as
may from time to time be required by the Postmaster General for
safeguarding Government and other property which may be under
their charge in terms of these regulations and for the proper
performance of their duties as well as that of any assistant or
substitute they may employ in accordance with the provisions of
regulation 91.
Training of 
Sub-Postmasters, 
assistants and 
substitutes.
98. Sub-Postmasters, assistants and substitutes may be
required to undergo such period of training as may be considered
necessary by the Postmaster General.
Declaration on 
oath.
99. Sub-Postmasters, assistants and substitutes shall make the
declaration on oath referred to in section 9 of the Act.
Stock quantities. 100. Stocks of postage stamps and postal stationery shall be
purchased by the Sub-Postmaster at his expense in such quantities
as to meet the needs of the locality. Stocks of Postal Orders shall
likewise be kept; these shall be provided by the Postmaster General
on consignment basis.
STAMP VENDORS
Postmaster General 
to issue licences to 
stamp vendors.
101. (1) The Postmaster General shall issue licences to sell
postage stamps to those applicants who, in his opinion, are deemed
to be suitable persons to act as stamp vendors, and under such
terms and conditions as he may deem fit.
(2) The licence issued by the Postmaster General to stamp
vendors shall be in the form set out in the Fifth Schedule and shall
be available for inspection at any time by an officer of the Post
Office.
(3) The Postmaster General shall have the right to cancel any
licence granted to a stamp vendor at any time and without giving
any reason for his decision.
(4) Any licence issued under the provisions of this regulation
shall be returned by the stamp vendor to the Postmaster General
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 27
whenever his licence is cancelled.
Stamp vendors to 
sell postage stamps 
and postal 
stationery.
102. Stamp vendors shall sell postage stamps and postal
stationery and such other items available for sale at the Post Office
as the Postmaster General may from time to time direct.
Price of postage 
stamps, etc.
103. Postage stamps shall be retailed by stamp vendors at face
value. Postal stationery shall be sold at the price published in the
Gazette. Other items shall be sold at the price fixed by the
Postmaster General.
Stamp vendors to 
apply for stamps 
on requisition 
form.
Amended by:
L.N. 174 of 1993.
104. (1) Applications for postage stamps, postal stationery,
and other items shall be made on a printed form of requisition to be
supplied by the Post Office and shall be signed by the stamp
vendor.
(2) The value of the postage stamps applied for in any
requisition shall not be less than Lm15 and shall not contain
fractional amounts in cents.
(3) The stamp vendor or his authorised representative shall
call personally at the Post Office to withdraw the supplies required.
Stamp vendors to 
sell postage stamps 
to every buyer.
105. Stamp vendors shall always keep in stock such postage
stamps as are ordinarily in use for the pre-payment of postage and
shall sell postage stamps to each and every buyer.
Commission due to 
stamp vendors.
Amended by:
L.N. 74 of 1991;
L.N. 174 of 1993.
106. (1) Stamp vendors shall be entitled to a commission as
specified in the Third Schedule on postage stamps and postal
stationery. The Minister may also prescribe by notice published in
the Gazette any commission which may be payable to a stamp
vendor on any other item purchased from the Post Office.
(2) The commission due to a stamp vendor shall be deducted
from the amount payable by the stamp vendor at the time of
purchase by him of postage stamps, postal stationery, or other items
as the case may be.
(3) The Minister may from time to time, by notice published in
the Gazette, vary or amend the rate of commission referred to in
subregulation (1), but when any such variation or amendment
amounts to a reduction in the rate of commission, it shall not come
into effect before the lapse of fifteen days from the date of
publication of such notice.
Signboard to be 
exhibited by stamp 
vendor.
107. (1) A signboard or plate bearing the words "Licensed to
sell Postage Stamps" shall be prominently exhibited by every stamp
vendor in his shop or place of business. Such signboard or plate
shall be supplied by the Postmaster General and shall be returned to
him in the event of the licence of the stamp vendor being cancelled
or surrendered by the stamp vendor.
(2) The signboard or plate mentioned in the foregoing
subregulation shall be kept in good condition by the stamp vendor
to whom it is issued and the said stamp vendor shall be liable to
make good for any loss or damage to the said signboard or plate.
PRIVATE DELIVERY BOXES
Application for 
private delivery 
box.
108. An application for the renting of a private delivery box
shall be made in writing to the Postmaster General by any person
28 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
who has attained the age of eighteen years. The Postmaster General
shall have the right to refuse any such application without giving
any reason for his decision.
Rent for use of 
private delivery 
box.
109. (1) The rent for the use of a private delivery box shall be
as specified in the Third Schedule, payable in advance, and shall be
deemed to run from the first day of the month in which the private
delivery box is rented, and thereafter such annual rent shall be paid
by the box-holder to the Postmaster General not later than five
working days prior to the commencement of the rental period for
which it is due.
(2) The Postmaster General shall have the right to terminate
the use of a private delivery box for any just cause or if rent is not
paid as provided in the foregoing subregulation, and in such a case
the Postmaster General shall not refund any rent already paid.
Rent to be for 
twelve months.
110. (1) A private delivery box shall be rented for a period of
twelve months and thereafter such renting shall be deemed to have
been renewed from year to year unless the box-holder gives notice
in writing to the contrary to the Postmaster General not later than
fifteen working days before the expiry of the current rental period.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the foregoing
subregulation, the Postmaster General may in his discretion
authorise under such conditions as he deems fit the renting of a
private delivery box for a period of not less than three months and
not exceeding six months, in which case the rent, payable in
advance, shall be assessed in proportion to the number of months
for which the private box is rented.
Keys to private 
delivery boxes
111. (1) The Postmaster General shall make available, free of
charge, one key to the box-holder. Before providing a key, the
Postmaster General may require a box-holder to deposit a sum as
specified in the Third Schedule; such deposit shall be refunded to
the box-holder on the termination of the lease upon the surrender of
the key and the payment of any outstanding rent. Additional blank
keys may be made available by the Postmaster General to the
box-holder on payment of a fee as specified in the Third Schedule
for each such key on application in writing by the box-holder.
(2) The box-holder shall immediately inform in writing the
Postmaster General of the loss of a key to his private delivery box
and shall return the remaining keys, if any, to the Postmaster
General. A new lock shall be fitted by the Postmaster General in
such a private delivery box and the box-holder shall be charged a
fee as specified in the Third Schedule. One key of the new lock
shall be provided by the Postmaster General to the box-holder free
of charge.
(3) All keys to a private delivery box shall remain the property
of the Postmaster General and shall be surrendered to him by the
box-holder on the termination of the renting of a private delivery
box, failing which the Postmaster General shall charge the
box-holder a sum as specified in the Third Schedule or shall have
the deposit, as provided in subregulation (1) appropriated for the
replacement of the lock.
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 29
Use of private 
delivery box 
cannot be 
transferred.
112. A box-holder shall not transfer to, or share with, another
person the use of his private delivery box, unless such transfer or
sharing is approved by the Postmaster General after an application
in writing to this effect is made by the box-holder:
Provided that when a sharing facility is approved by the
Postmaster General a fee as specified in the Third Schedule shall be
payable.
Delivery of postal 
article.
113. A postal article shall be deemed to have been delivered to
the box-holder as soon as it is placed in his private delivery box.
Postal articles 
which are not to be 
placed in private 
delivery boxes.
114. Postal articles which are registered or on which postage is
insufficiently pre-paid or which are bulky or which in the opinion
of the Postmaster General should not be placed in the private
delivery box, shall be retained at the Post Office and shall be
delivered over the counter to the box-holder or his authorised agent
on presentation of a notice placed in the private delivery box for
that purpose.
Box number to be 
written on postal 
article.
115. A postal article intended for delivery at a private delivery
box shall have the full name of the box-holder written legibly on it
in addition to the box number and the locality of the Post Office
where the private delivery box is installed.
Time and manner 
of collection from 
private delivery 
box.
116. (1) A box-holder or his authorized agent may collect his
postal articles from his private delivery box at any time during
which the Post Office is open for such business.
(2) Postal articles shall be collected from a private delivery
box with sufficient frequency to prevent any accumulation of mail
in excess of the capacity of the box.
(3) Whenever a box-holder fails to comply with subregulation
(2) or when the quantity of postal articles regularly received by the
box-holder exceeds the capacity of the box or boxes rented to such
box-holder, the Postmaster General may require him to rent an
additional box or boxes in accordance with regulations 109, 110,
111 and 112.
PRIVATE POSTING BOXES
Application for 
private posting 
boxes.
117. An application for the installation of a private posting box
shall be made in writing to the Postmaster General by any person
who has attained the age of eighteen years. The Postmaster General
shall have the right to refute any such application without giving
any reason for his decision.
Applicant to 
provide private 
posting box.
118. (1) A person whose application for the installation of a
private posting box has been accepted shall provide at his expense
the private posting box which shall conform to the pattern and size
approved by the Postmaster General and shall instal such a box in a
place indicated by the Postmaster General on the ground-floor near
the main entrance of the premises specified in the application.
(2) The lock and keys of a private posting box shall be
provided by the Postmaster General at the expense of the applicant.
The applicant shall also affix onto the front part of his private
posting box such notice as may be required by the Postmaster
General.
30 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
Fee for private 
posting box.
119. (1) The fee for a private posting box shall be as specified
in the Third Schedule payable in advance, and shall be deemed to
run from the first day of the month in which the use of such box
commences, and thereafter such annual fee shall be paid by the
person in whose name such box is registered to the Postmaster
General not later than five working days prior to the
commencement of the period for which it is due.
(2) The Postmaster General shall have the right to terminate
the services of a private posting box for any just cause or if the fee
is not paid as provided under subregulation (1), and in such a case
the Postmaster General shall not refund any fee already paid.
Fee for private 
posting box to be 
for twelve months.
120. The minimum period for the use of a private posting box
shall be of twelve months and thereafter such service shall be
deemed to have been renewed from year to year unless a notice to
the contrary is given in writing to the Postmaster General not later
than fifteen working days before the expiry of the current period.
Collection from 
private posting 
boxes.
121. The times and frequency of the collection of postal articles
from a private posting box shall be in accordance with instructions
which may be given from time to time by the Postmaster General.
Access to private 
posting boxes.
122. The officers of the Post Office shall have access to private
posting boxes for the purpose of collecting postal articles therefrom
and for inspecting such boxes as may be required.
PARCEL POST
Posting of parcels. 123. (1) Parcels intended to be transmitted by post shall be
posted by being handed to the appropriate officer at the counter at
the Parcel Post Office or any other Post Office or Sub-Post Office
duly authorised to accept parcels.
(2) At the time of posting of any such parcel, the sender shall,
on the appropriate form, write his name and full address and state
how the parcel shall be disposed of in case of non-delivery.
(3) A receipt shall be issued for every parcel posted.
Weight and size. 124. The maximum weight and dimensions of parcels shall be as
specified in the Second Schedule.
Packing. 125. Every parcel shall be made up and secured in such manner
as in the opinion of the Postmaster General is calculated to prevent
damage to any other postal article in the course of transmission or
to any receptacle in which the same is conveyed, or injury to any
officer of the Post Office or to any other person who may deal with
such parcel. In the event of such damage or injury the sender shall
be liable to pay to the Postmaster General such reasonable
compensation as the latter shall determine.
Prohibitions. 126. There shall not be posted or tendered or made over in order
to be transmitted by parcel post, or delivered by parcel post, any
item which is prohibited in terms of regulation 13.
Declaration of 
contents.
127. The contents of the parcel shall be clearly declared on the
appropriate form which shall be affixed on the parcel.
Delivery. 128. Parcels shall be collected from the Parcel Post Office or
from any other Post Office indicated on a notice notifying the
addressee to call and take delivery of the parcel; the parcel shall be
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 31
delivered only on production of the relative notice and of any other
proof of identity that may be required.
Undeliverable 
parcels.
129. An undeliverable parcel shall be dealt with in accordance
with the instructions given by the sender on the form affixed on the
parcel at the time of posting in accordance with regulation 123.
Compensation.
Postmaster General shall pay an indemnity not exceeding the
amount fixed in the Third Schedule when it is proved to his
satisfaction that a parcel duly accepted for transmission and
delivery has been lost, damaged or destroyed whilst in the custody
of the Post Office.
Enquiries.
loss of a parcel shall be made on the form prescribed in the Eighth
Schedule subject to the following conditions:
( a ) the enquiry must be made before the lapse of twelve
months from the date of posting and must be
accompanied by a fee as specified in the Third
Schedule, which fee shall be payable in postage
stamps affixed to the said prescribed form;
( b ) the enquiry form must be accompanied by the receipt
issued as provided in regulation 123(3). 
Damage/loss 
certificate.
132. The addressee of a parcel may request the issue of a
certificate when it is established that such parcel has been
damaged, lost or destroyed while in the custody of the Post Office;
such certificate shall be issued on payment of a fee as prescribed in
the Third Schedule.
Decision of 
Postmaster General 
on compensation.
133. The decision of the Postmaster General on all questions of
compensation payable in respect of parcels shall be final.
Pre-payment of 
postage and fees.
134. Save as otherwise provided in these regulations, or as the
Postmaster General may direct, the postage and fees payable on
every parcel and the fees payable in respect of postal facilities shall
be pre-paid.
Method of 
pre-payment.
135. The pre-payment of postage and fees in respect of parcels
shall be denoted:
( a ) by adhesive postage stamps; or
( b ) by impressions of franking machines operated under
the control and direction, or with the permission, of
the Postmaster General; or
( c ) by the use of a stamped envelope, cover, card or other
postal form, issued by the Postmaster General; or
( d ) by the use of printed postage stamps cut out of or
otherwise detached from an envelope, postcard,
wrapper, letter or other postal form, issued by the Post
Office; or
(e) in such other manner as the Postmaster General may
from time to time permit.
32 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
MONEY ORDERS
Money Orders. 136. Any amount of money may be remitted to any person by
means of a local Money Order. Money Orders shall be issued at a
Post Office or Sub-Post Office upon application on the appropriate
form. The amount of money to be remitted and the commission
chargeable thereon shall be paid at the Post Office or Sub-Post
Office at the time of issuing the Money Order. A Money Order,
when issued, is handed to the remitter to be transmitted by him to
the payee.
Maximum and 
minimum amounts.
Substituted by:
L.N. 139 of 1993.
137. The maximum and minimum amounts for which a single
Money Order may be issued shall be as specified in the Third
Schedule, but the remitter may apply for more than one Money
Order at the same time.
Rates of 
commission.
138. The rates of commission payable on Money Orders shall be
as specified in the Third Schedule.
Payment. 139.  Money Order shall not be payable on the same day of
issue. Money Orders shall be encashed at the Post Office or
Sub-Post Office indicated thereon or through a bank. If presented
for payment at a Post Office or Sub-Post Office payment will be
made to the payee against his signature on proof of his identity.
Crossed Money Orders are only payable through a bank. When
Money Orders are presented for payment by the Bank the
formalities referred to in this regulation shall not be applicable.
Alterations. 140. No alteration shall be made to the name of the payee or of
the office of payment as originally inserted.
Period of validity. 141. A Money Order shall be valid for a period ending on the
last day of the second calendar month following that during which
it is issued.
Repayment. 142. The amount of a Money Order may be refunded to the
remitter against presentation of the order within the period of its
validity.
Void Money 
Order.
143. Money Orders whose validity has lapsed and which have
not been revalidated shall be refunded to the remitter.
Responsibility of 
Postmaster 
General.
144. Upon paying a Money Order, by whomsoever presented,
the Postmaster General shall not be liable to any further claim for
payment or for compensation in respect of loss or injury arising out
of the delayed payment of the order or for any other cause
whatsoever.
PENALTIES
Penalties. 145. (1) Any person who sends or tenders, or makes over in
order to be sent by post or parcel post, any postal article, parcel or
other thing in contravention of regulation 13(1)( h ), ( i ), ( j ), ( m ) and
( o ) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable
to a fine ( multa ) of not less than five liri and not exceeding fifty
liri.
(2) Any person who acts in contravention of the provisions of
regulations 95(2) and 96 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) of not less than ten liri and
not exceeding fifty liri.
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 33
(3) Nothing contained in the foregoing subregulations shall be
construed as affecting any provision of the Act; and the foregoing
subregulations shall not affect the operation of any other law in
respect of an act or omission under such law liable to a punishment
higher than that laid down in this regulation or in respect of any
offence not specifically provided for in this regulation.
34 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
Inland Rates of Postage
Substituted by:
L.N. 74 of 1987;
L.N. 139 of 1993;
L.N. 14 of 1997;
L.N. 229 of 2002.
FIRST SCHEDULE
(Regulation 5)
First Column Second Column
Rates of postage
Letters Up to 50g ............................................. 7c
Each additional 50g up to 2Kg ............. 4c
Postcards ............................................................. 7c
Printed Papers Up to 50g ............................................. 7c
Each additional 50g up to 2Kg ............. 2c
The weight limit for printed papers is 2Kg but packets of books or pamphlets
weighing up to 5Kg may be sent as Printed Papers at the following rate:
For every additional Kg or fraction
thereof over 2Kg ..................................... 30c
Locally Registered Newspapers
For each copy not exceeding 100g ........ 5c
Every additional 50g or fraction thereof
per copy .................................................. 2c
Parcels
Not exceeding 1kg in weight ................ 50c
Exceeding 1kg but not 3Kg .................. 76c
Exceeding 3Kg but not 5Kg ................. Lm1.00
Exceeding 5Kg but not 10Kg ............... Lm.1.20
Articles for the Use of the Blind (including parcels containing
solely articles for the use of the blind) ....................................... Free
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 35
SECOND SCHEDULE
(Regulations 18, 44, 50, 52, 56 and 124)
Limits of Size and Weight
2. The material of postcards shall not be less than .25 mm thick.
3. The limit of weight of a packet of books or pamphlets is 5 kg.
4. The limits of size of postal articles in the form of a roll shall be as follows:
( a ) Maximum - length plus twice the diameter 1040 mm but the greatest
dimension may not exceed 900 mm;
( b ) Minimum - length plus twice the diameter 170mm but the greatest
dimension may not be less than 100 mm.
1. Postal Article Size Maximum  WeightMaximum Minimum
Letters Length, width and depth 
combined 900 mm but the 
greatest dimension may not 
exceed 600 mm 140 x 90 mm 2 kg
Printed papers - do - - do - 2 kg
Articles for the use
of the blind - do - - do - 7 kg
Postcards 148 x 105 mm - do - -
Parcels 1.05 m in length and 2 m in 
length and girth combined - do - 10 kg
36 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
Post Office Charges, Fees, Commissions, Compensations and Maximum and 
Minimum amounts of a Money Order
Substituted by:
L.N. 74 of 1987.
Amended by:
L.N. 86 of 1990;
L.N. 159 of 1991;
L.N. 27 of 1993.
Substituted by:
L.N. 139 of 1993.
Amended by:
L.N. 38 of 1995;
L.N. 72 of 1995.
Substituted by:
L.N. 14 of 1997.
Amended by:
L.N. 148 of 1997;
L.N. 229 of 2002.
THIRD SCHEDULE
(Regulation 53)
Regulation 28 Selling Prices of Post Office Stationery
Registration Envelopes
Size G ............................................................. At Cost + 15%
Size H ............................................................. At Cost + 15%
Aerogrammes .................................................. At Cost + 15%
Presentation pack .................................................................................. At Cost +Value 
of Stamps
First Day Cover (blank) ......................................................................... At Cost + 15%
Souvenir Folder (blank) ........................................................................ At Cost + 15%
 Maximum Card (Mint) ......................................................................... At Cost + 15%
Postcard (Mint) ..................................................................................... At Cost + 15%
Philatelic Handling Charges with the exception of authorised agents:
( a ) For any order for the affixing of stamps
on any envelope, card, aerogramme or other item
of postal stationery .............................................. 5c per envelope
( b ) For any order for the supply of mint and/
or cancelled stamps and postal stationery, but
excluding postal stationery with stamps affixed
thereon ................................................................
5% of Value of 
Stamps
Regulation 35 Search fee prior to withdrawal of a postal
article .................................................................. 17c
Regulation 41 Redirection
Normal annually .............................................. Lm2
To PO Boxes annually ..................................... Lm10
Regulation 47 Registration fee for newspapers/periodicals ..... Lm5 per annum
Regulation 54 Certificate of posting of unregistered postal
articles ................................................................ 11c
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 37
Regulation 56 Business Reply Service Licence .......................  Lm10 per annum
Business Reply Service, per item ..................... 2c plus postage
Regulation 57 Registration fee ............................................... 21c
Regulation 61 Advice of Delivery of a registered letter .......... 17c
Regulations 61 and 66 Enquiry fee ...................................................... 17c
Regulations 67 and 132 Fee in connection with certificate of loss or
damage ................................................................ 50c
Regulation 68 Maximum compensation for the loss of a
registered postal article or parcel ......................... Lm20
Regulation 101 Stamp Vendor Licence ..................................... Lm1 per annum
Regulation 106 Commission to stamp vendors
For every Lm1 purchased ................................ 2c
For every Lm1 of Year Packs purchased .......... 10c
For every Lm1of Telecards purchased ............. 4c
Regulation 109 Rent of a private delivery box, per annum ........ Lm20
Regulation 111 Deposit on key of Private Delivery Box ........... Lm5
Regulation 111 Supply of extra keys ........................................ At Cost + 15%
Regulation 111 Charge for replacement lock ............................ At Cost + 15%
Regulation 111 Charge for non-return of key/s ......................... Lm5
Regulation 112 Sharing facility of Private Delivery Box, per
annum ................................................................. Lm10
Regulation 119 Annual fee for Private Posting Box .................. Lm50
Regulation 137 Minimum amount of a Money Order ................ 20c
Maximum amount of a Money Order ............... Lm250
Regulation 138 Commission on Money Orders
For sums not exceeding Lm20 ......................... 25c
For sums exceeding Lm20 ............................... 45c
38 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
Request for Re-direction of Mail
IMPORTANT - Please see conditions overleaf
POSTMASTER GENERAL
I request that postal articles addressed to me/us at .................................................
be redirected to .....................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
with effect from ....................................................................................................
Signatures and ID card numbers of all persons over 18 years of age who are
requesting this redirection
Signature .......................... Name in Blocks ..................... I.D.No.......................
Signature .......................... Name in Blocks ..................... I.D.No.......................
Signature .......................... Name in Blocks ..................... I.D.No.......................
Signature .......................... Name in Blocks ..................... I.D.No.......................
------------------------------------- Fold here ---------------------------
FOR OFFICE USE
Date of Commencement .................................... Expiry Date ...........................
Present address Redirection address
................................................ ....................................
................................................ ....................................
................................................ ....................................
Noted in redirection book .............................
Mail Inspector ................................
Notes:
1. A request for redirection will not be complied with in the case of postal
articles addressed to hotels, clubs, institutions, etc., and residential flats where the
addressees have a common letter box with others in the same building.
2. A redirection request is valid for a period of 12 months. An application for
the renewal of a redirection request must be made at least 15 days prior to the expiry
of the date of the existing redirection order and is granted only when the Postmaster
General is satisfied that the circumstances justify an extension of the initial period.
3. Redirection requests are charged the following fees:
Lm1 annually for a normal re-direction
Substituted by:
L.N. 139 of 1993. FOURTH SCHEDULE
(Regulation 41)
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 39
Lm5 annually when redirection is to a PO Box.
4. A redirection request must be signed by the person or persons to whom the
postal articles are addressed.
5. On the expiration of a redirection order all postal articles received will be
delivered as originally addressed.
40 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
FIFTH SCHEDULE
(Regulation 101)
Licence to act as Stamp Vendor
Department of Posts
Ref. No. .....................
Licence No...................
Licence is hereby granted in terms of the Post Office Act to
......................................................................................... to act as stamp vendor at
................................................................
..............................................
......................................
Postmaster General
Department of Posts,
Valletta
..........................
(Date)
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 41
Hours of Business of Post Offices
1. ( a ) General Post Office counters - Valletta
During the period running from the 1st day of October to the 15th day of
June:
Mondays to Saturdays: 8.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
During the period running from the 16th day of June to the 30th day of
September:
Mondays to Saturdays: 7.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
( b ) Branch Post Offices in Malta and Gozo (except those at Malta
International Airport, Gudja and Victoria, Gozo)
All the year round
Mondays to Saturdays: 7.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m.
( c ) Victoria Branch Post Office, Gozo
All the year round
Mondays to Saturdays: 7.30 a.m. to 5.20 p.m.
( d ) Malta International Airport Post Office, Gudja
All the year round
Mondays to Saturdays: 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. (including public
holidays)
( e ) Parcel Post Office, Valletta
During the period running from 1st day of October to the 15th day of
June:
Mondays to Fridays: 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
1.45 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
During the period running from the 16th day of June to the 30th day of
September:
Mondays to Fridays: 7.30 a.m. to 1.15 p.m.
( f ) Central Mail Room, Valletta
All the year round
Mondays to Fridays: 7.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Saturdays 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.
( g ) P.O. Boxes and Poste Restante Section, Valletta
SIXTH SCHEDULE
(Regulation 4)
Amended by:
L.N. 73 of 1988;
L.N. 95 of 1988;
L.N. 71 of 1989;
L.N. 104 of 1989.
Substituted by:
L.N.38 of 1992.
Amended by:
L.N. 70 of 1993.
Substituted by:
L.N. 14 of 1997.
42 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
All the year round
Mondays to Fridays: 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Saturdays: 7.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
2. Where a public holiday falls on a weekday, the General Post Office, the
Parcel Post Office, Branch Post Offices, the Mgarr Post Office, Gozo, the Central
Mail Room and P.O. Boxes/Poste Restante Sections, Valletta shall be kept closed
unless otherwise notified.
3. The General Post Office, the Parcel Post Office, Branch Post Offices, the
Malta International Airport Post Office, Gudja, the Mgarr Post Office, Gozo, the
Central Mail Room and the P.O. Boxes/Poste Restante Sections, Valletta or any of
them, may be kept closed on any particular day owing to some particular occasion
and the hours of business on any such day in respect of any or all of the said offices
may be different from those set out in the preceding paragraphs.
4. Counter Service at the Parcel Post Office shall close fifteen minutes before
the closing time of the said office.
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 43
Sub-Post Offices
HOURS OF BUSINESS
From Mondays to Fridays: 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m
4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Saturdays: 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m
Sundays and other Public holidays: Closed
REMUNERATION AND COMMISSION TO SUB-POSTMASTERS
Annual remuneration Lm750
Commission to Sub-Postmasters on business transactions:
( a ) Sale of stamps and postal stationery 2c in the Lm
( b ) Money Orders (Local and Foreign) 4c for each one
issued or encahsed
( c ) Postal Orders 1c for each one
issued or encashed
( d ) Registration of postal articles 2c on each postal
(Local or Foreign) article
( e ) Parcels 5c on each parcel
posted
( f ) Postcheques 5c on each
postcheque encashed
( g ) Telephone payments 2c on each payment
received
( h ) Sale of Telecards 4c in the Lm.
SEVENTH SCHEDULE
(Regulations 82, 91, 94)
Amended by:
L.N. 14 of 1993.
Substituted by:
L.N. 139 of 1993.
44 ġ S.L.254.07 INLAND POST
Date of this application.
Note  a . Enquires should bear a 10c stamp if postal article is addressed to a local
destination and 20c if addressed to an overseas destination. In case of registered
postal articles with AR card, no stamps are required.
Note  b . No compensation is payable in respect of any postal article lost or
damaged which is sent by ordinary post other than the parcel post. The compensation
payable for the loss or damage of registered postal articles and parcels is governed
by local and international postal regulations.
Substituted by:
L.N. 139 of 1993. EIGHTH SCHEDULE
(Regulations 66, 131)
ENQUIRY ON A POSTAL ARTICLE OR PARCEL REPORTED MISSING, 
DAMAGED, DELAYED OR IN ANY WAY IRREGULARLY TREATED
AFFIX STAMP 
(See note  a )
This form should be completed in block letters as accurately
as possible, and either handed back to the issuing office or sent
under cover to THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, GENERAL
POST OFFICE, VALLETTA CMR02.
1. The name and complete address
written on the postal article
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
2. Whether it was sent as a parcel,
letter-packet, etc. ........................................................
3. By whom, and at what Office or in
which letter-box it was posted ........................................................
4. The date and time of posting Date ................... Time ....................
5. Whether it was insured and for
what amount ........................................................
6. Whether it was registered ........................................................
7. If registered, state number and
attach copy of receipt Number .................... Date ..............
8. Whether it was sent by air or
surface mail ........................................................
9. If Postal Orders were included,
attach original Postal Order counterfoils
and state serial numbers
................ ....................... ................
................ ....................... ................
10. State the nature of the complaint ........................................................
11. State the name and full address of
the sender
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
12. Amount of claim (See note  b ) ........................................................
13. Signature of sender or his
authorised agent ........................................................
INLAND POST ġ S.L.254.07 45
NINTH SCHEDULE
(Regulation 69)
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
Licence for the Use of a Postal Franking Machine
Licence is hereby granted to ..................................................................................
of ................................................................ to use the franking machine described
hereunder for the purpose of making impressions on postal articles to denote
pre-payment of postage in terms of the Inland Postal Regulations.
This licence is being granted subject to the conditions attached.
Issued this ................... day of .................. 
Postmaster General
Particulars of Licensee and Machine
Licence Number ..................................... Machine Serial No. .............................
Name of Manufacturer ..........................................................................................
Name of Supplier ..................................................................................................
Premises at which machine is to be used ................................................................
Post Office destined for meter setting and inspection .............................................
Post Office at which all franked mail is to be handed in .........................................
Meter No.
Franking Die 
letter(s) & 
number
Model Setting Denominations  of postage
Date of 
bringing into 
use and 
initials of 
Officers 
concerned
Date of setting 
and initials of 
receiving 
officer
