The adoption of children from Bulgaria is at a standstill because of the Maltese authorities’ refusal to acknowledge Bulgarian medical certificates, adoption agencies have complained.

The issue has complicated matters for prospective adoptive parents as Bulgaria is one of the few countries ready to send its children for adoption in Malta and cooperation with other countries is still in its very early stages.

The concern was flagged by prospective adoptive parent Desiree Spiteri, who helped set up an adoption agency last year with advocate Josette Sultana after finding so many doors to adoption closed.

Dr Sultana explained that Bulgaria is signatory to the Hague Convention of Adoption, as is Malta. Agencies are encouraged to work with other Hague Convention countries because this provides more safeguards against human trafficking and means the system is regularised.

Malta does not accept children with HIV or Hepatitis B and C but the convention does not require a medical certificate for the latter and Bulgaria does not provide it. As a result, the Maltese authorities are requesting an additional test for Hepatitis C before the Central Authority gives the green light for the adoption to proceed.

Meanwhile, Family Minister Michael Farrugia has insisted it should be mandatory for signatories of the Hague Adoption Convention to provide medical tests showing children are free from Hepatitis C.

Read more in the Times of Malta.