[1] The Superintendence is responsible for the surveillance of activities related to the control, direcrion, monitoring, regulation, investigation and recording of cultural heritage in Malta.

The first was the Environment Protection Act (No V of 1991), the second The Environment and Planning Development Act (No 1 of 1992), which aims to regulate and establish modern planning procedures.

The latter established critical principles of scheduling and grading of historic buildings, and  introduced the concepts of urban conservation areas and protective zoning.

The Grand Harbour Local Plan (realised by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority), in force since 2002, contains policies that specifically protect the World Heritage property[3] The Cultural Heritage Act (No VI of 2002, am.

[1] Functions of the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage include:[4]