Supplementary Protection Certificates
Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) are an Intellectual Property Right that serve as an extension to a patent right. They apply to specific pharmaceutical and plant protection products that have been authorised by regulatory authorities. SPCs aim to offset the loss of patent protection for pharmaceutical and plant protection products that occurs due to the compulsory lengthy testing and clinical trials these products require prior to obtaining regulatory marketing approval.
An SPC can extend a patent right for a maximum period of five years. A six-month additional extension is available in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1901/2006.
The local list of granted SPCs can be found here.
Redress or appeal
Decisions of the office which are open to redress or appeal must be sent on [email protected] or in writing at:
Commerce Department, Industrial Property Registration
Director Industrial Property Registration
Lascaris Bastions,
Valletta VLT 1933, Malta
Disclaimer
Unless otherwise indicated, the information contained in this site is issued by the Industrial Property Registrations Director within the Commerce Department at the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects.
Updated on
Last updated on 2nd April 2026