The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued 437 vendor licenses under the amended Tobacco Control Act, marking a significant step in the Maldives’ ongoing efforts to regulate tobacco use and safeguard public health.
The updated legislation now mandates that all businesses selling tobacco products obtain a specific license from the Ministry of Health, in addition to their standard business permit from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.
As part of the broader regulatory framework, 312 tobacco products have been officially registered nationwide. The HPA also reports granting 31 tobacco import licenses and two re-export licenses. These measures are part of a comprehensive strategy to combat tobacco-related non-communicable diseases, which are a leading cause of preventable death in the country.
Additional actions include raising the legal age for tobacco purchases to 21, increasing tobacco product duties, and banning the import of electronic cigarettes and vapes effective 15 November 2024. Furthermore, a generational ban—effective January 1, 2007—prohibits anyone born on or after that date from ever legally purchasing or using tobacco.
The government underscores that these stringent policies are vital to creating a tobacco-free future and protecting the long-term health of Maldivian citizens.