The Health Division would like to inform the general public that now Malta is a signatory Party to the Schengen Convention, the Schengen principles of free circulation of people will hold for Maltese travellers travelling from one Schengen State to another. Checks at internal border for sea will be lifted as from the 21st of December 2007 whilst that for air travel will start on the 30th of March 2008.

Therefore residents in Malta who travel to another Schengen State and, who, during this period of travel require to take narcotic drugs and/or psychotropic substances for medical treatment (i.e. medicines which are only available from Health Centre pharmacies and retail pharmacies against a green prescription [Form DH 129] and control card [Form DH 680(i)), are required to keep in their possession a specific medical certificate.

This medical certificate is obtained from doctors, who are to clearly and wholly fill in sections A, B and C of the said medical certificate. The general public is further instructed to proceed to the Drug Control Unit at 3B Old Mint Street, Valletta with the medical certificate for final authentication. The Drug Control Unit will henceforth fill in Section D of the medical certificate.

A separate certificate is required for each narcotic drug/psychotropic substance prescribed.

As from the 21st of December 2007, the Schengen States will include the following: Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

To the above mentioned countries are to be added the older members of the Schengen Agreement, namely: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Finland, Norway (non-EU country) and Iceland (likewise a non-EU state).

As from October 2008 Switzerland (non-EU country) will also be joining the other Schengen countries, whilst towards the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009 Cyprus, UK and Ireland are expected to become signatory to the Schengen Convention.