S.L. 425.20 Art. 4Recognition of Professional Organisations in Malta.

(1) The Director shall keep a register of professional organisations as recognised by him in Malta in accordance with

Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013.

(2) The Director shall only recognise professional organisations that operate with respect to the objectives, principles and measures as set out in Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, and he may carry out audits and withdraw the recognition if any professional organisation does not respect such mentioned objectives, principles and measures, and particularly if Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/ 2013 applies:

Provided that all members of a professional organisation recognised according to these regulations shall at all times be licensed or otherwise authorised to operate in the fisheries and, or aquaculture sector according to the Act.

(3) Without prejudice to other obligations and requisites required for recognition, a professional organisation shall be registered according to a legal form applicable under Maltese law:

Provided that without prejudice to the foregoing, the legal forms required for the recognition of professional organisations shall be such as to provide them with a separate and distinct legal personality to that of their members and the legal form adopted shall allow the professional organisation to operate commercially:

Provided further that professional organisations shall at all times comply with all applicable obligations required for their chosen legal form, and this in addition to those required by these regulations, and failure to comply may lead to the suspension of recognition by the Director.