Cap. 37 Art. 82Power to prohibit imports.

(1) The Minister responsible for customs may, by regulation, prohibit, restrict or regulate the importation into Malta, whether by sea or air, of any goods or class of goods.

(2) A regulation under this article may specify any goods or class of goods, either generally or in any particular manner, whether with reference to the country of origin, or the route of importation or otherwise.

(3) Where the Commissioner has reason to suspect that any material containing extreme pornographic images has been imported into Malta in contravention of any regulations made under sub-article (1), but so that no other offence against this Ordinance is committed in connection with or for the purpose of the importation thereof, the Commissioner may detain and open and, subject to the provisions of the next following sub-article, with the written authority of the Minister responsible for customs, destroy such material.

(4) The provisions of the Second Schedule to the Post Office Act shall apply to any printed matter detained under the last foregoing sub-article, and for the purpose of this sub-article -

(a) the references in that Schedule to the Postmaster General shall be construed as if they were references to the Commissioner for Tax and Customs;

(b) the references to the Minister in paragraphs 5 and 7 of that Schedule shall be construed as if they were references to the Minister responsible for customs; and

(c) the references in that Schedule to the detaining of printed matter under article 27 of the Post Office Act, and to delivery through the post shall be construed as if they were references to the detaining of printed matter under sub-article (3) and to release from Customs respectively.

(5) The provisions of sub-articles (3) and (4) shall be without prejudice to any seizure, forfeiture, remedy, right of proceeding or penalty established by the other provisions of this Ordinance in respect of any article, other than printed matter to which sub-article (3) applies, imported in contravention of regulations made under sub-article (1).