The three forensic experts who worked at the forensic laboratory in Valletta, which was effectively closed down by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority last month, have agreed to start work at the Malta National Laboratory in San Gwann and the situation should return to normal as from today, sources told The Times.

The sources said: "The equipment at the laboratory in Valletta is to be moved (today) and the situation will get back to normal."

The OHSA on September 21 carried out an inspection at the forensic laboratory, situated in Lower Merchants Street, Valletta, and issued a stop order on work carried out in rooms where exhibits were stored and in the GC-MS laboratory "in view of the serious risks to health".

The resulting situation started affecting the work at the law courts.

As a result of the OHSA stop order, the three forensic experts, who are public service employees, reported for work at the Ministry of Finance, where they were given a room in which to work.

However, court cases were delayed as the experts could not submit reports since they did not have access to the laboratory.

The state of affairs came under heavy fire from the opposition. But the Speaker last week in Parliament turned down its request for an immediate debate on the closure of the laboratory, saying it did not satisfy the urgency criteria established by standing orders.

According to the sources, the three experts had refused to move to the recently set up Malta National Laboratory - which amalgamates the national laboratories - even though some of the forensic equipment had been transferred there.

The sources said a court ruling a few years ago removed responsibility for forensic evidence from the jurisdiction of the police and, although the experts could still be called as expert witnesses in their individual capacity, they had no laboratory facilities.

"They did not really form part of any entity, though the finance ministry was responsible for their employment, and the OHSA was asked by someone to inspect the premises in Valletta. As most of the equipment had been moved, it closed down the laboratory," the sources said.

The government had been insisting that the three experts make the move to the new laboratory and offered them the relevant contracts. However, it was only in recent days that they accepted, the sources said.