The organisational structure of the Plant Protection Directorate reflects its mission and its functions as the National Plant Protection Organisation for Malta and as the national entity responsible for the implementation of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Commission for Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The core functions of import, border and internal market control are entrusted to the Monitoring and Control Unit. The Laboratory Services Unit provides many essential testing, diagnostic and interpretation services related to plant pests, diseases and disorders.
The Policy and Planning Unit is the policy arm of the Directorate, in charge of monitoring legislative and policy developments at EU, international and national level, and translating these requirements into national tools for implementation. This Unit is also responsible for liaising with other Government entities, and stakeholders, and for the preliminary work in relation to the engagement in projects that serve to advance the agenda of the Directorate.
The Conservation of Genetic Resources is a Unit within the Directorate dedicated to the conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture. It is also the responsible entity for the access and benefit sharing of genetic resources as regulated by national, EU and other international policy instruments.
As expected, the Business Administration is in charge of the core business management and administration functions of the Directorate, including customer care.
The leadership of the Plant Protection Directorate is in the competent hands of the Director, assisted by the team within the Director’s Office.