Amended Legal Notices have been published, which comes into force on the 7th of January 2022, for a change to the controversial regulations related to fundraising for voluntary organisations and charity shops.

Jesmond Saliba Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, said on Monday, that ”this collaborative exercise that took place over the past few months, between the OCVO, the MCVS and all the major stakeholders within the voluntary sector, shows that voluntarism in Malta is truly recognised as a fundamental pillar of Maltese society.”

Relating to Charity shops, changes include that: ”Charity shops shall have in their premises the words “Charity Shop” both in the Maltese and English Language, together with the voluntary organisation’s name and the voluntary organisation’s number.”

Also a ”shop or stall opened for a period of less than twenty days in a year shall not be considered as a charity shop for the purposes of these regulations, but shall nevertheless abide by the provisions established in the Voluntary Organisations (Public Collections) Regulations, 2020.

Any person who operates in a charity shop,whether against remuneration or not, being a helper, member, volunteer and, or charity operator shall be in possession of a tag issued by the voluntary organisation.

The tag shall be made visible at all times during the time that the shop is open to the public and must be kept in a clean and legible state and be marked with an expiry period of one year.

It must also have displayed on it: (a) the name and surname of the person who operates in the charity shop; (b) the identity card number or passport number of the person who operates in the charity shop; (c) the voluntary organisation’s number of the enrolled and compliant voluntary organisation; (d) the name of the charity shop; (e) the signature of any administrator of the voluntary organisation.

With public collection, the main changes include that previously VOs had to notify the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations before organising a public collection, now, an enrolled and compliant VO can hold a public collection event without notifying the OCVO.

VOs are also able to provide collectors with sealed tins. When collections are completed the tins are then to be opened in front of a minimum of two administrators. No warranted professional needs to be present.

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