Cap. 639 ст. 5The National Agricultural Policy and its preparation and review.

(1) The National Agricultural Policy is a strategic governance document which establishes the policy framework for the preparation of plans, policies and programs issued in accordance with this Act.

(2) The Agriculture Directorate shall prepare the National Agricultural Policy. In preparing such document, the Agriculture Directorate shall consult with all the entities, whether public or otherwise, including ministries, as the Agriculture Directorate may deem proper.

(3) The Minister shall review the National Agricultural Policy every ten (10) years, unless a review of said policy is required prior to the lapse of the ten (10) years:

Provided that if the Directorate is unable, for whatever reason, to prepare the National Agricultural Policy or its review, the Director shall inform the Minister without delay and the Minister shall instruct the Directorate to delegate such function, and in so doing it shall ensure that the provisions of this Part are complied with.

(4) In preparing or reviewing the National Agricultural Policy, the Minister shall have regard to:

(a) the policies of the Government;

(b) environmental policies;

(c) current economic and financial policies;

(d) current social policies;

(e) European Union legislation and policies and other international environmental convention obligations to which Malta is a party;

(f) the resources likely to be available in all relevant government entities for the implementation of the strategy.