Cap. 495 Art. 2Definitions.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"accredited agency" means an organisation which is accredited by the central authority, in accordance with the Hague Convention, to carry out local and, or intercountry adoption; "adoption" means a local or an intercountry adoption made in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code, the provisions of the Minor Protection (Alternative Care) Act, the provisions of this Act and any regulations made thereunder; "Adoption Board" means the board established by virtue of article 3; "Adoption Service within the Directorate of Alternative Care (Children and Youth)" means the adoption service offered by the national agency which is accredited by the Central Authority in accordance with the Hague Convention to carry out local and inter-country adoptions; "Board of Appeal" means the board established by virtue of article 16 or such other administrative board or tribunal which the Minister may from time to time designate to carry out all or any of the functions as specified in this Act;

"central authority" means the Authority established by virtue of article 7;

"child" means a person under eighteen years of age; "country of origin" in respect of intercountry adoption means the country from which a child is adopted; "court" means the Civil Court (Voluntary Jurisdiction Section); "Hague Convention" means the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption; "intercountry adoption" means an adoption effected in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code relating to adoption, the provisions of this Act and the law of a foreign country:

(i) in accordance with the Hague Convention or any other International Treaty to which Malta is a party; or

(ii) in Malta, in respect of a child not habitually resident in Malta, or in favour of any person not habitually resident in Malta; "open adoption" means an adoption made in accordance with article 22 of this Act and article 119 of the Civil Code, whereby a child maintains contact, which may be physical, virtual or through correspondence with his parents and, or natural family; "the Minister" means the Minister responsible for social policy;

"social worker" shall have the meaning assigned to it by article 2 of the Social Work Profession Act.