A points system has been introduced as part of a revision of the hunting law, the Gozo Ministry, which is also responsible for hunting, said Saturday.

The amendment announced today mean that hunters who accumulate 12 penalty points over two years will have their licence suspended.

The points system covers administrative offences listed in Schedule VIII of the regulations on Wild Birds Conservation and Schedule II of regulations on wild rabbits.

All offences carry between two and four penalty points, the ministry said. Anyone in possession of electronic or electric devices will be penalised with four points, for example.

Hunters who accumulate 12 points over two years will have their licence suspended for one year.

All points accumulated will return to zero if the offender does not commit an offence for two years from the date of the last offence.

The ministry said that administrative fines have remained the same as they were, but a number of offences have been added to the list and, therefore, are no longer subject to court procedures.

More information can be found on https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2022/85/mlt and https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2022/86/mlt.