​The Plant Protection Directorate, as its name indicates, protects the health and quality of the production of plants, seeds and other plant propagation material. This is done by preventing the introduction and distribution of pests, diseases and plant damage; and to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of local genetic resources for food and agriculture.

Therefore, the role of this directorate is of utmost importance considering that its work helps to safeguard public health.

To be able to do this, the Directorate is divided into several units. The control of imports and the internal market is managed by the Monitoring and Control Unit. This unit also carries out various inspections in greenhouses, fields, nurseries, and public gardens. They also take samples for analysis to monitor plants from diseases.

The Policy and Planning Unit and the International Affairs Unit are in charge of monitoring legislative and policy developments at national, European and international level. They also collaborate with organizations including EFSA, EPPO and IPPC. The Administration Unit is in charge of the commercial management and administration functions of the Directorate including Customer Care and Quality Award.

In the Directorate we also find the Diagnostic Laboratory. It provides a diagnostic analysis service for diseases affecting plants and other plant material. This service covers five main areas, which include:

• analysis for bacteria
• viruses
• moulds
• nematodes, and
• insects.​
  

The Diagnostic Laboratory does not only monitor and investigate plant diseases but also serves as a reference center for Malta in these areas of disease. The laboratory sees that its operation is in accordance with the laws of the European Union. The service provided by this laboratory is important for the Maltese Nation in order to: (i) ensure the health and quality of plants and agricultural products, both of local origin, as well as those imported and exported ; (ii) ensure quality and safety in the Maltese product and (iii) give advice to producers and the public.

Within the Directorate, we also find the Conservation for Genetic Resources section. The aim of this section is the conservation of wild and agricultural plants through various initiatives that are carried out throughout the year and which aim to not only conserve them but also multiply them in programs with partners with ' other entities such as the ERA, the Argotti Gardens, PARKS and Ambjent Malta.

The Section is made up of several facilities:

• The micro-propagation laboratory: in this laboratory, young disease-free plants grown on a special mixture prepared in the laboratory itself are propagated. The plants are grown in sterilized containers and kept in specialized rooms for growing plants until they grow enough to be transferred to a greenhouse in the same complex;
  

• In the greenhouse, the plants that have come out of the laboratory continue to be grown on material made of compost and perlite. After a period of months, the plants are ready to move on to the last phase;
  

• In the shadehouse, the plants continue to grow and strengthen until they are ready for planting;

• Inside the screenhouses, the section is building a collection of various varieties from old Maltese citrus. However, the aim is to collect and preserve other fruit trees for future generations;
  

• The Maltese Plant Garden is a botanical and educational garden that aims to show the various natural habitats that exist within our country. The Garden is also endowed with quite rare trees and shrubs, thus making a quite unique garden for our country. In it we also find plants that have unfortunately become extinct in Malta. It also plays a part in Maltese plant conservation efforts.​
  

Last, but not least, the first Genetic Bank in Malta is also being built which aims to strengthen the conservation efforts in the country and of the Directorate, by storing parts of long term plants. This should serve as a repository of Maltese plant genetics as well as a place where research by Maltese scientists can sprout.