Food items that arrived in Malta from Albania via Sicily on Friday will be destroyed after it was found not to be compliant with safety regulations, the Food and Safety Authority said Saturday.

The FSSA said it was alerted by the Tax and Customs Administration regarding a van that arrived in Malta via the ferry from Sicily, carrying various food products. The vehicle had departed from Albania and transited through Sicily before reaching Malta.

Following this notification, FSSA officials conducted an inspection of the vehicle and its contents. After carrying out the necessary checks, a quantity of food items including meat, yoghurt, snacks, cheese, olive oil, soft drinks, beans, eggs, alcohol, salt and juices was identified as non-compliant with applicable food safety regulations.

The products were found to have been transported at inappropriate temperatures and/or lacked the required labelling. Furthermore, essential traceability documentation was missing, the statement said.

In view of these breaches, the products were immediately sealed and will be destroyed to safeguard food safety, protect public health, and preserve the integrity of the local industry.

The authority also noted that it had not been informed in advance of the arrival of this consignment, as required under local legislation.

The FSSA said all traders are legally obliged to register with the Authority and to notify it at least 48 hours prior to the entry into Malta of any animals, food, feeding stuffs, or plants. This requirement applies even when such goods originate from within the European Union.

The Authority emphasised that it will remain vigilant and will take firm action against any operators attempting to trade such products without the necessary notification, in accordance with the Trading Regulations of 2004.