Cap. 473 Art. 9BOffences and penalties.

Any person in the course of an economic activity who, upon an inspection by the competent authority or any person appointed by it for such purpose in terms of article 25 -

(a) has in his possession plastic bags, already placed on the market in Malta, which do not conform to the obligations listed under the provisions of the Fourth Schedule; or

(b) fails to comply with any other obligation listed under the provisions of the Fourth Schedule, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine (multa) of not less than one thousand euro (€1,000): Provided that where a person has been convicted under this article and is again convicted of an offence under the said article committed within six months from the date of the previous conviction, the fine (multa) shall in no case be less than one thousand five hundred euro (€1,500): Provided further that where a person has been convicted for a third offence under this article within a period of twelve months from the date of the first conviction, the fine (multa) shall in no case be less than two thousand euro (€2,000): Provided further that where a person has been convicted for four offences under this article in a period of twenty-four months, the court shall on the latest of the said convictions impose a fine (multa) of not less than two thousand five hundred euro (€2,500) and in addition to the punishment for that conviction order the suspension for a determinate time of not less than one week and not more than one month of all licences, permits, warrants or other authorisation granted by the Police or by any other authority to carry on the economic activity or activities to which the offences relate.