Cap. 36 Art. 21Payment of compensation for damage caused by disinfection.

(1) Where in pursuance of the powers under article 16 the officers of the department of health have disinfected any house, part of a house or any article therein, or have destroyed any such article, the Government shall make reasonable compensation to the owner or occupier of such house or part thereof, or to the owner of such article, as the case may be, for unnecessary damage caused by the disinfection to such house, part of a house or article, or where an article has been destroyed, for the loss thereof caused by the destruction.

(2) If such compensation is refused, it shall be lawful to maintain an action for the recovery thereof, before the competent court.

(3) For the purpose of this article "house" includes any store, tent or van, or any ship lying in any of the ports or in the territorial waters of Malta.

(4) In the case of destruction by order of the Superintendent of infected or verminous articles, the Superintendent shall have the option of making compensation therefor by replacing each article destroyed, or any one of such articles, by others, or another, substantially similar.