The Malta Tourism Authority wants to clamp down on illegal restaurants by plugging a loophole in the laws which is being exploited by owners.

There are an estimated 70 catering outlets operating without the necessary permits. Most advertise their services on social media, catering for large groups and offering traditional fare of fenkata (rabbit) and majjalata (suckling pig).

The establishments are not inspected, do not pay taxes and do not adhere to the same health and safety standards as their licensed counterparts.

When asked how many of these establishments had been shut down, a government spokesman said no action had been taken at all: “The legislation in place does not regulate such operations, which cannot be legally defined as restaurants.” He mentioned a case instituted against one such establishment in 2013. 

The illegal restaurant owners had successful appealed against an MTA decision to close it down, arguing that the property did not have free access to the public and so could not be defined as a restaurant. 

The MTA’s inability to regulate the restaurants, however, does not mean they are given a carte blanche. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is tasked with monitoring the irregular establishments even if they are not technically restaurants. A spokesman said Mepa had shut down eight properties which had been illegally operating as catering establishments in recent years.