The Malta Standards Authority (MSA) is a statutory organisation established in 1996 under the Malta Standardisation Authority Act. The Authority started functioning in February of 1997. With the coming into force of this Act, the Authority has taken over the functions of the Malta Board of Standards, the Food Standards Board and the Inspector of Weights and Measures. The Malta Standardization Authority Act of 1996, was replaced by The Malta Standards Authority Act of 2000.

The Authority’s mandate – besides being the National Standards Body entrusted to adopt, publish and disseminate voluntary standards – is very much broader and includes related standardization activities such as technical advice to various Ministries and governmental bodies, notification of standards and regulations and co-ordinating testing, certification, accreditation, and metrology activities in Malta. The Authority is also responsible for the running of the EU EMAS and Eco-label Schemes in Malta. The Authority is also responsible for all activities dealing with CE Marking, being the Designating Authority for Notified Bodies. MSA is presently made up of a Council, Central Administration and five directorates.

The Council represents the major stakeholders responsible to support the quality and measurement. The directorates within MSA are:

• Accreditation Directorate (NSB-MSA)
• Consumers and Industrial Goods Directorate
• Food, Cosmetic and Chemicals Directorate
• Metrology Directorate
• Standardization Directorate.