S.L. 460.8 Art. 16Disclosure of information and documentation.

(1) The information which is communicated between the applicant authority and the requested authority in pursuance of this

Order shall be subject to official secrecy and enjoy the protection extended to similar information under the laws of Malta if such information is received in Malta. If the said information is transmitted from Malta to another Member State, the information shall be subject to the protection granted in that Member State.

(2) If the information is received in Malta:

(a) it may be invoked or used as evidence by all the authorities in Malta in the same manner as the authorities invoke and use similar information in Malta;

(b) it may be used for the purpose of applying enforcement or precautionary measures with regard to a claim covered by this Order or for the assessment and enforcement of compulsory social security contribution:

Provided that the Member State which provided such information may permit the use of the information in Malta beyond the purposes indicated under subarticle (2), when its legislation so permits under similar purposes.

(3) An applicant or requested authority may transmit information obtained pursuant to this Order to a third Member State, if it considers such information to be useful for the purposes referred to in subarticle (1). The Member State of origin of the information shall be duly informed and may officially object to the sharing of information within ten days from receipt of such a request.

(4) (a) The information transmitted between an applicant authority and a requested authority may be accessed by persons accredited by the Security Accreditation Authority of the European Commission for the care, maintenance and development of the CCN Network.

(b) For the purpose of this subarticle, "CCN Network" means the common platform based on the common communication network (CCN) developed by the European Union for all transmissions by electronic means between competent authorities in the area of customs and taxation. AND OTHER MEASURES)