S.L. 254.1 Art. 22Disposal of undeliverable incoming or outgoing postal articles.

(1) This regulation applies to incoming and outgoing postal articles.

(2) An incoming postal article that is undeliverable shall be returned to the country of origin, with the reason for non-delivery clearly indicated on such postal article:

Provided that unregistered postcards without the particulars of the sender shall be disposed of in such manner as the universal service provider concerned may, in the circumstances, deem appropriate: Provided further that an unregistered postal article consisting in direct mail shall be disposed of in such manner as such universal service provider may deem appropriate, unless the sender has requested, by means of a note written on the outside of such article, the return thereof in case of non-delivery.

(3) A postal article posted in Malta for delivery at a place outside Malta which is returned to Malta as undeliverable, shall be dealt with as follows:

(a) an undeliverable postal article which bears a legible return address on the outside shall be returned unopened and appropriately endorsed to that address;

(b) an undeliverable postal article which does not bear a legible return address on the outside shall be opened by the universal service provider concerned and if the address of the sender can be ascertained, it shall then be returned to the sender under official cover: Provided that if such postal article is found to contain paper money, coins or any other valuables it shall be compulsorily registered at the expense of the sender before being so returned and if the sender refuses to pay the postal charges due on that postal article the universal service provider concerned shall dispose of it as it may think fit, without prejudice to its right to claim from the sender those postal charges: Provided further that if, notwithstanding the opening of the postal article, the universal service provider concerned is unable to establish the address of the sender and the universal service provider concerned considers that the said postal article contains items of value or importance, then it shall record such items in the appropriate register and shall unless claimed, keep such items for a period not exceeding one year from the day on which the postal article is so recorded and thereafter the universal service provider concerned may dispose of such items in any manner as it may consider appropriate.