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ISO and GRC certification consulting in Malta
Achieve ISO and GRC certification in Malta with Sterling: 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries, 20+ years.
- 22 standards, one team
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Sectors that ask for certification in Malta
Clients include
ISO and GRC certification in Malta at a glance
Malta combines an EU rulebook with a small, export-minded economy, and that mix drives demand for ISO and GRC certification. The Critical Infrastructure Protection Department supervises the NIS2 Order, Legal Notice 71 of 2025, which came into force on 23 January 2026, with the Malta Communications Authority covering electronic communications, trust services and postal services. The Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner enforces the GDPR under the Data Protection Act, Cap. 586, while the Malta Gaming Authority, the Malta Financial Services Authority, the Malta Medicines Authority and the Food Safety and Security Authority each set expectations for their sectors. Public tenders refer to systems certified by accredited bodies. NAB-Malta is the national accreditation body for laboratories and inspection, and management system certificates usually carry accreditation from another economy, never from Sterling. Demand is strongest among gaming and fintech businesses, ICT providers, healthcare and life sciences, food producers and port logistics. Sterling serves Maltese clients from its Frankfurt office, drawing on 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries and 20+ years of experience, with Effivity and Sterling Academy included with the engagement.
ISO and GRC standards Sterling delivers in Malta
Each card opens Sterling's guide to the standard: what it requires, how certification or compliance works and what sets the time and cost.
Quality & operational excellence
Information security, cyber & cloud
Privacy & data protection
AI governance & digital trust
Environment, energy & climate
Health & safety
Governance, risk & resilience
Financial services, payments & AML
Food safety & agriculture
Healthcare, medical devices & life sciences
Laboratories, inspection & accreditation
Automotive, aerospace, rail & defence
Construction, energy, oil & gas
Regulators and laws that drive certification in Malta (12)
| Law or regulator | What it asks for | Standards it cites |
|---|---|---|
| General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (Cap. 586 of the Laws of Malta) The Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC) | The Act repealed and replaced the former Data Protection Act (Cap. 440), states that it implements and further specifies the GDPR, and appoints the Information and Data Protection Commissioner as the supervisory authority, responsible for monitoring and enforcing the Act and the Regulation. The IDPC describes itself as the national supervisory authority for the GDPR and the Data Protection Act and also enforces the Freedom of Information Act. An Information and Data Protection Appeals Tribunal hears appeals against the Commissioner's decisions. Legislation.mt shows the Act in force from 28 May 2018. | |
| Subsidiary legislation under the Data Protection Act The Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC), with the Minister responsible for data protection making the regulations | The IDPC's legislation page lists the subsidiary legislation. S.L. 586.01 sets specific rules for the electronic communications sector, and S.L. 586.02 revoked the old duty to notify every processing operation to the IDPC and to pay the matching fee. Other instruments cover minors, education, elections, law enforcement and restrictions of rights. | |
| Protection of the Whistleblower Act (Cap. 527 of the Laws of Malta) Employers in the private sector and the public administration; the entities listed in the First Schedule to the Act receive external disclosures | The Act sets procedures for employees to disclose improper practices, including bribery and corrupt practices, and protects those who disclose from detrimental action. It requires every employer to have internal procedures for receiving and dealing with disclosures. Legislation.mt shows it in force from 15 September 2013. | |
| The Critical Infrastructure Protection Department (CIP Department) as national supervisory authority; the Malta Communications Authority as competent authority for public electronic communications networks and services, trust service providers and postal and courier services Essential and important entities in the sectors the NIS2 Order lists, among them energy, transport, banking, financial market infrastructure, health, drinking and waste water, digital infrastructure, ICT service management, public administration, space, postal services, waste, chemicals, food, manufacturing, digital providers and research | Legal Notice 71 of 2025 (S.L. 460.41), the Measures for a High Common Level of Cybersecurity across the European Union (Malta) Order, 2025, made under the European Union Act (Cap. 460) and published in the Government Gazette of Malta of 8 April 2025. It states that it transposes Directive (EU) 2022/2555. Legal Notice 22 of 2026, published in the Gazette of 23 January 2026, sets 23 January 2026 as the date on which all the provisions of the Order come into force. Essential and important entities register on a national self-registration mechanism run by the CIP Department, appoint a security liaison officer and apply measures that include risk analysis and information system security policies, incident handling, business continuity, supply chain security and cybersecurity training. The Order takes into account relevant European and international standards and does not name ISO/IEC 27001. | |
| The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) Financial entities (banks, insurers, investment firms, payment institutions and others in DORA's scope) | Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 (DORA) on digital operational resilience for the financial sector. The NIS2 Order refers to the MFSA's supervisory activities in relation to financial entities under DORA, and the Malta Financial Services Authority Act (Cap. 330) is in force on legislation.mt. DORA does not name ISO/IEC 27001. | |
| The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) Gaming operators and critical gaming suppliers | The Gaming Act (Cap. 583), in force from 1 August 2018 according to legislation.mt, with the Gaming Authorisations Regulations and the Gaming Authorisations and Compliance Directive (Directive 3 of 2018). The Directive requires hardware forming part of a licensee's key technical setup to sit in premises that adhere to a high level of information security and that should seek to conform to the latest industry standards, and it requires licensees to notify the Authority of certain information security breaches. It does not name ISO/IEC 27001. | |
| The Malta Medicines Authority (national competent authority for medical devices) Medical device manufacturers, importers and distributors | Subsidiary Legislation 458.59, the Medical Devices and In-Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Provision on the Maltese Market Regulations, with Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746. The Authority's site says its Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical Collaboration and Entrepreneurship Directorate handles national registrations and notifications, market surveillance, post-market surveillance and vigilance, and notified body designation and oversight. The pages do not name ISO 13485. | |
| The Food Safety and Security Authority Food businesses | The Food Safety and Security Authority Act (Cap. 649, Act XV of 2025) establishes the Authority, responsible for the security of supply, food safety and sustainability of food systems in Malta, and lists among its functions issuing licences and authorisations to operators and establishments in the production, processing and marketing of food. The Food Safety Act (Cap. 449) remains in force. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 requires food business operators to put in place, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on the HACCP principles. None of these makes a third-party certificate compulsory. | HACCP |
| The Occupational Health and Safety Authority Employers in every sector (occupational health and safety) | The Health and Safety at Work Act, 2024 (Act XXXIII of 2024), published in the Government Gazette of 9 August 2024, which repealed the Occupational Health and Safety Authority Act (Cap. 424). Legislation.mt gives 26 November 2024 as its date of coming into force. The Act does not name ISO 45001. | |
| The competent Maltese authority designated under the national implementation of the Directive, for that authority or counsel to confirm Large energy users | Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency. It requires Member States to ensure that enterprises with an average annual energy consumption higher than 85 TJ over the previous three years implement an energy management system certified by an independent body in accordance with the relevant European or international standards, and that enterprises above 10 TJ without such a system are subject to an energy audit. The Directive does not name ISO 50001. | ISO 50001 |
| EU framework; the national supervisory arrangements are for the competent Maltese authorities to confirm Providers and deployers of AI systems | Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act). It is a regulation, not a certification scheme, and it does not name ISO/IEC 42001. The IDPC's artificial intelligence page explains how the AI Act and the GDPR interact where AI systems process personal data. | |
| The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA), through the Standardisation Directorate within its Standards and Metrology Institute Standards development | The MCCAA describes the Standardisation Directorate as Malta's National Standards Body. It coordinates Malta's participation in CEN, CENELEC and ETSI work, runs national and mirror technical committees, coordinates the development of Maltese national standards and gives access to European, international and national standards. |
Accreditation and recognition
- NAB-Malta (National Accreditation Board – Malta): National accreditation body.
Look for a certification body whose accreditation scope covers your standard and sector, from a national accreditation body recognised under the international arrangements of Global ACI (Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, formerly the IAF MLA). Sterling does not certify.
Tenders and procurement
- Public procurement under the Public Procurement Regulations (S.L. 601.03, Legal Notice 352 of 2016, as amended) (Contracting authorities under the Regulations): Each contracting authority sets its own conditions. Where it requires certificates from independent bodies on quality assurance standards, the Regulations direct it to quality assurance systems based on the relevant European standards series certified by accredited bodies, and to recognise equivalent certificates from bodies in other Member States. For environmental management it refers to EMAS, other recognised systems or environmental management standards based on the relevant European or international standards, certified by accredited bodies.
Economic zones
- Malta Freeport Terminals: container transhipment, maritime logistics, port services
- Regulated gaming sector: online and land-based gaming, critical gaming supply, payments and platforms
- Financial services sector: banking, insurance and investment services, payments
Sterling in Malta
Sterling delivers in Malta from its Frankfurt office: one team from scoping to certificate, with Effivity ISO & GRC software and Sterling Academy access included. Sterling does not certify; certification decisions stay with independent bodies.
Questions Malta clients ask
Are certification audits in Malta conducted in English or Maltese?
Audits can run in either language. Maltese is the national language and English is equally official under the Constitution, so the certification body will agree with you at application which language auditors read and which governs your controlled documents. A customer contract or a regulator can impose its own language rule, and that rule takes priority.
Is Malta's NIS2 law in force?
Yes. Legal Notice 71 of 2025, published in the Government Gazette on 8 April 2025, states that it transposes the NIS2 Directive, and Legal Notice 22 of 2026 sets 23 January 2026 as the date all its provisions come into force. The Critical Infrastructure Protection Department supervises it. Whether your organisation is an essential or important entity is for that Department or your counsel to confirm.
Which authority supervises the GDPR in Malta?
The Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner. The Data Protection Act (Cap. 586) appoints the Commissioner as the supervisory authority responsible for monitoring and enforcing both the Act and the GDPR, and the Office also enforces the Freedom of Information Act. For how a particular processing activity is treated, ask the Office or take advice from your counsel.
Does NAB-Malta accredit ISO 9001 certification bodies?
Not according to European Accreditation. Its decision of 16 April 2026 lists NAB-Malta as an EA MLA signatory for calibration, testing and inspection only. Certification bodies serving Maltese clients for ISO management system standards therefore usually hold accreditation from another economy within the international arrangements. Ask the body for its accreditation certificate and check that the scope covers your standard and sector.
Can Maltese public buyers ask for ISO certificates?
Yes, where the tender asks for them. Malta's Public Procurement Regulations tell contracting authorities that require independent-body certificates on quality assurance to refer to systems certified by accredited bodies, and on environmental management to refer to EMAS or standards certified by accredited bodies; equivalent certificates from other Member States must be recognised. The exact requirement sits in each tender, so read it and take advice.
Does the Malta Gaming Authority require ISO 27001?
Its Authorisations and Compliance Directive does not name ISO/IEC 27001. It requires hardware in a licensee's key technical setup to sit in premises that adhere to a high level of information security and should seek to conform to the latest industry standards, and it requires notice of certain breaches. An operator's own licence conditions and the Authority's guidance decide what evidence it expects.
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Sources
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (Cap. 586 of the Laws of Malta) — legislation.mt; idpc.org.mt; eur-lex.europa.eu (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Subsidiary legislation under the Data Protection Act — idpc.org.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Protection of the Whistleblower Act (Cap. 527 of the Laws of Malta) — legislation.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Legal Notice 71 of 2025 (S.L. 460.41), the Measures for a High Common Level of Cybersecurity across the European Union (Malta) Order, 2025, made under the European Union Act (Cap. 460) and published in the Government Gazette of Malta of 8 April 2025. It states that it transposes Directive (EU) 2022/2555. Legal Notice 22 of 2026, published in the Gazette of 23 January 2026, sets 23 January 2026 as the date on which all the provisions of the Order come into force. Essential and important entities register on a national self-registration mechanism run by the CIP Department, appoint a security liaison officer and apply measures that include risk analysis and information system security policies, incident handling, business continuity, supply chain security and cybersecurity training. The Order takes into account relevant European and international standards and does not name ISO/IEC 27001. — legislation.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 (DORA) on digital operational resilience for the financial sector. The NIS2 Order refers to the MFSA's supervisory activities in relation to financial entities under DORA, and the Malta Financial Services Authority Act (Cap. 330) is in force on legislation.mt. DORA does not name ISO/IEC 27001. — eur-lex.europa.eu; legislation.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- The Gaming Act (Cap. 583), in force from 1 August 2018 according to legislation.mt, with the Gaming Authorisations Regulations and the Gaming Authorisations and Compliance Directive (Directive 3 of 2018). The Directive requires hardware forming part of a licensee's key technical setup to sit in premises that adhere to a high level of information security and that should seek to conform to the latest industry standards, and it requires licensees to notify the Authority of certain information security breaches. It does not name ISO/IEC 27001. — mga.org.mt; legislation.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Subsidiary Legislation 458.59, the Medical Devices and In-Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Provision on the Maltese Market Regulations, with Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746. The Authority's site says its Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical Collaboration and Entrepreneurship Directorate handles national registrations and notifications, market surveillance, post-market surveillance and vigilance, and notified body designation and oversight. The pages do not name ISO 13485. — medicinesauthority.gov.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- The Food Safety and Security Authority Act (Cap. 649, Act XV of 2025) establishes the Authority, responsible for the security of supply, food safety and sustainability of food systems in Malta, and lists among its functions issuing licences and authorisations to operators and establishments in the production, processing and marketing of food. The Food Safety Act (Cap. 449) remains in force. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 requires food business operators to put in place, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on the HACCP principles. None of these makes a third-party certificate compulsory. — legislation.mt; eur-lex.europa.eu (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- The Health and Safety at Work Act, 2024 (Act XXXIII of 2024), published in the Government Gazette of 9 August 2024, which repealed the Occupational Health and Safety Authority Act (Cap. 424). Legislation.mt gives 26 November 2024 as its date of coming into force. The Act does not name ISO 45001. — legislation.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency. It requires Member States to ensure that enterprises with an average annual energy consumption higher than 85 TJ over the previous three years implement an energy management system certified by an independent body in accordance with the relevant European or international standards, and that enterprises above 10 TJ without such a system are subject to an energy audit. The Directive does not name ISO 50001. — eur-lex.europa.eu (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act). It is a regulation, not a certification scheme, and it does not name ISO/IEC 42001. The IDPC's artificial intelligence page explains how the AI Act and the GDPR interact where AI systems process personal data. — eur-lex.europa.eu; idpc.org.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- The MCCAA describes the Standardisation Directorate as Malta's National Standards Body. It coordinates Malta's participation in CEN, CENELEC and ETSI work, runs national and mirror technical committees, coordinates the development of Maltese national standards and gives access to European, international and national standards. — mccaa.org.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- NAB-Malta (National Accreditation Board – Malta) — european-accreditation.org; mccaa.org.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Public procurement under the Public Procurement Regulations (S.L. 601.03, Legal Notice 352 of 2016, as amended) — legislation.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Malta Freeport Terminals — maltafreeport.com.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Regulated gaming sector — mga.org.mt; legislation.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Financial services sector — legislation.mt (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
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