The IFAC PAIB Committee encompasses volunteers with experience and expertise in the world of business and the public sector, members are nominated by the professional accountancy organisations that make up IFAC’s membership. The committee is made up of 18 members from all over the world, each one being from a different country. The main aim of the committee is to give IFAC direct input on business and accountancy issues, relevant standard-setting initiatives, projects and initiatives, together with providing outreach and stakeholder engagement across the accountancy profession. Stephen L. Muscat represents Malta, Mr Muscat is also a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA) PAIB focus group.

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Due to the COVID-19 outbreak the Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA) had to act fast to switch from face to face training sessions to online ones. This appeared to be a challenge but also an opportunity for tutors. The MIA got in touch with Rachel Falzon, one of the tutors who previously gave face to face sessions for MIA and now has switched to virtual training. Rachel explains her experience and how she adapted to such a change. Read more...

The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has issued a Circular on the Amendments in relation to Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of the Insurance Business Rules issued under the Insurance Business Act (Cap. 403 of the Laws of Malta)  - Refer to Link for more details.

MGA publishes amendments to its Sandbox Regulatory Framework

Last week the Malta Gaming Authority has issued amendments to its Sandbox Regulatory Framework published here.

The MGA also reminds authorised persons that ‘an approval to participate in the Sandbox Regulatory Framework is conditional on the applicant holding the relevant licence issued by the MGA, without prejudice to any other regulatory requirements stemming from other applicable legislation, including but not limited to, the Virtual Financial Assets Act (Chapter 590 of the Laws of Malta) and the regulations issued thereunder.’

The Commissioner for Revenue has issued a notice stating that the Guidelines in relation to the Tax Consolidation (Income Tax) Rules have been updated on the CfR website. Changes have been made to paragraphs (i) and (vi) of the Guidelines.

The updated guidelines are available here: Updated Guidelines in relation to the Tax Consolidation (Income Tax) Rules

On 1 June, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) issued a release highlighting that the MFSA and the Accountancy Board, which regulates the accountancy profession, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

This establishes a framework for co-operation, mutual assistance and exchange of information between the two entities. The MoU was signed by Joseph Cuschieri, Chief Executive Officer of the MFSA, on behalf of the Authority and Prof. Peter Baldacchino, Chairman of the Accountancy Board, on behalf of the Board who both expressed satisfaction upon recognition of this collaboration.

The MFSA wishes to alert the public that ApexTrade Options Ltd is NOT a Maltese registered company NOR licensed or otherwise authorised by the MFSA to provide the service of an exchange or other financial services which are required to be licensed or otherwise authorised under Maltese law. The public should therefore refrain from undertaking any business or transactions with the above-mentioned entity.

For more information, click here. 

The MFSA wishes to alert the public, that MatrixFX Trade or MFXT Ltd are NOT Maltese registered Companies NOR licensed or otherwise authorised by the MFSA to provide the service of an exchange or other financial services which are required to be licensed or otherwise authorised under Maltese law. The public should therefore refrain from undertaking any business or transactions with the above-mentioned entities.

For more information, click here.

Notice from the FIAU

The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (“FIAU”) wishes to inform interested parties that a series of amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations (“PMLFTR”) S.L. 373.01, were published in Government Gazette No. 20,410 on the 22nd May 2020 by means of Legal Notice 214 of 2020 – a copy of such may also be accessed through the news section on the FIAU website. These amendments seek to address the technical compliance shortcomings within the PMLFTR that were identified by MONEYVAL assessors during the 5th Round Mutual Evaluation of Malta.  Other minor amendments have also been made so as to further clarify certain provisions, as well as to enhance the legislative framework in place for the prevention of ML/FT.   The amendments which came into force with the issuance of the aforementioned Legal Notice revised Regulations 8, 11, 12, 15 and 21 of the PMLFTR, with changes made to Regulations 15 and 21 deemed to be the most significant and hence, being described below. It is essential that subject persons and interested parties read and familiarise themselves with the law as amended.
 
 Amendments to Regulation 15 of the PMLFTR
 
The amendments to Regulation 15(3) and Regulation 15(7) seek to revise the timeframe for the submission of suspicious transaction reports (hereinafter referred to as “STRs”) by subject persons and supervisory authorities respectively. Through the amendments, the previous 5 working-day submission period for both subject persons as well as supervisory authorities is being replaced by an obligation to make prompt submissions of STRs to the FIAU.  Subject persons and supervisory authorities will in the coming weeks be provided with further guidance on the interpretation of the requirement to submit STRs in a prompt manner, through amendments to Chapter 5 of FIAU’s Implementing Procedures (Part I), which were issued for consultation and are being finalised following feedback received from subject persons and supervisory authorities. Furthermore, additional amendments to Regulation 15(3) and Regulation 15(7) seek to clarify that the obligation to submit an STR subsists also where there is an attempt to carry out a transaction or activity, as long as the subject person knows, suspects or otherwise has reasonable grounds to suspect that it is related to proceeds of crime or funding of terrorism.
  
Amendments to Regulation 21 of the PMLFTR
Through the amendment of Regulation 21(3), it is now being expressly stated in a statutory instrument, that any administrative penalty imposed by the FIAU in accordance with policies and procedures established by its Board of Governors has to be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Through amendments made to Regulation 21(7), the FIAU is now empowered to impose administrative sanctions on individuals who have a senior managerial role within a subject person and who are found to be responsible (i.e. who have caused or contributed to) for AML/CFT breaches committed by that subject person. The said cause or contribution can take place either through an act or omission of the individual, which has to be intentional or occasioned through gross negligence (including through the lack of proper oversight of subordinates).  To this effect, the FIAU will be able to impose administrative penalties of not less than Euro 1,000 but not more than Euro 250,000 on individuals who hold directorship or similar positions/functions (something the FIAU already had the ability to do), as well as on individuals holding senior executive management functions, the Money Laundering Reporting Officer and the officer responsible for AML/CFT compliance within a subject person.
 
The FIAU will also have the power to recommend to any relevant supervisory authority, that the said individual be suspended or precluded from exercising any of the said functions within that or any other subject person, not only when it imposes an administrative penalty on the individual concerned, but also in the absence (instead) of such penalty.

The FIAU would like to bring the below Notice to the attention of all members:

Subject persons are to note that Court Orders are available on the Asset Recovery Bureau website through the following link. This section of the FIAU website is no longer being updated with the latest court orders, which were being reproduced pursuant to an informal arrangement between the FIAU and the Courts of Malta. Therefore, subject persons are to kindly refer to the Asset Recovery Bureau website for updated Court Orders.