S.L. 445.7 Art. 5

(1) It shall be the function of the Chief Herald to:

(a) represent the Office in Malta and internationally;

(b) advise the Agency regarding cooperation with other governments and international organisations in the fields of heraldry, vexillology and genealogy;

(c) maintain a specific register to be known as the Register of Arms in Malta as described in regulation 8, and to establish and maintain such other registers, inventories and indexes as may be required in connection with the good

(d) promote Malta’s heraldic, vexillological and genealogical heritage;

(e) safeguard, promote and promulgate heraldic, vexillological and genealogical heritage as an intrinsic part of Malta’s heritage;

(f) participate and promote participation in international collaborative heraldic, vexillological or genealogical projects, and to enter into agreements with similar bodies outside the Maltese Islands with prior approval of the Agency;

(g) compile, publish and distribute with or without charge books, magazines, journals, reports or other printed matter, including aural, visual, computerised and internet accessible material as may be appropriate;

(h) undertake research and consult the Government departments, public and private organisations and international organisations and other persons as may be required in the discharge of its duties under these regulations;

(i) appoint and accredit monitors and experts as necessary for the purposes of these regulations with prior approval of the Agency;

(j) publish guidelines on the provision of heraldic services and to establish and maintain standards in the preparation and depiction of Arms and Flags;

(k) guide, advise, warn and consult, particularly where arms unofficially in use may not be conducive to the harmonious rules of heraldry and or vexillology, and to offer solutions;

(l) devise and grant new Arms, both personal and corporate;

(m) maintain, manage and control the application process for personal and Bodies Corporate desirous of acquiring or registering Arms;

(n) grant Arms by Letters Patent in accordance with these regulations:

Provided that the Chief Herald may, in the exercise of this function, issue an official blazon without artwork;

(o) register other Arms, in accordance with these regulations: exercise of this function, issue an official blazon without artwork;

(p) monitor the operation of these Regulations on behalf of the Agency and prepare an annual report on its operation;

(q) perform any matter conducive towards the attainment of the above functions.