On Tuesday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved important amendments to the Notarial Profession and Notarial Archives Act (Chapter 55 of the Laws of Malta) put forward by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Governance Edward Zammit Lewis. These amendments were agreed following a consultation with the Notarial Council as well the Chief Notary of Government, the government said in a statement.

Following this process, important amendments were agreed on, regarding instances when a notary can refuse to provide its services, in particular when the parties before the notary fail to deposit excise duties, taxes, and other obligations both due to the Government, and for the notary to comply with important obligations in order to ensure transparent and good governance in legal negotiations and acts published by the same notary.

Furthermore, the amendments set out clear parameters concerning the powers of the notary, empowering the Board of Examiners to decide when to conduct the notary qualification examinations and the position of notaries who are engaged in a contract of employment. Finally, the Bill paves the way for other digitisation methods, for all volumes of Acts held in the Notarial Archives, apart from microfilming. This is being done to make way for new and more modern technology, for citizens to be served in a more efficient manner. 

Minister Edward Zammit Lewis will be commencing the parliamentary process for the Bill to enter into force as soon as possible.