Consultation On Amendments To Malta's Merger Rules

On 15 January 2026, the Office for Competition within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority published a consultation document, together with proposed amendments, recommending changes to the Control of Concentrations Regulations. The changes, if implemented, would considerably change the merger control process in Malta.

The main proposals are outlined below:

Change in the thresholds: At present, concentrations are notifiable if the aggregate turnover of the parties in Malta exceeds EUR 2.3 million and each of the parties have a turnover in Malta of at least 10% of the aggregate turnover. The proposal envisages the increase of the trigger turnover from EUR 2.3 million to EUR 4.5 million, and would then require that each of the parties has a turnover in Malta of at least EUR 800,000. However, the Office for Competition is proposing a "call in" mechanism, whereby the Office for Competition may request parties to notify a proposed transaction if it