Agriculture Ministry Assumes Live Fish Export Certification Duties

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has assumed responsibility for issuing live fish export permits and International Veterinary Health Certificates for live fish shipments, functions that were previously handled by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority.

The Ministry confirmed that, following the transfer of these regulatory duties, all procedures related to the export of live fish from the Maldives, including the issuance of health certifications, are now managed under its authority.

According to the Ministry, applications for live fish export permits must be submitted through its online portal at aos.egov.mv. New companies are required to link their corporate profile with the applicant’s eFaas account. To complete this process, companies must email a copy of their registration certificate along with the applicant’s National Identity Card to the Ministry.

The Ministry advised that the processing time for export permits is between two and three working days and urged applicants to submit their requests well in advance. Applications must also include detailed information on the species and the estimated quantity of live fish intended for export.

The Ministry stated that International Veterinary Health Certificates will be issued only after an official veterinarian conducts a physical inspection of the shipment at Velana International Airport. Exporters are required to notify the Ministry at least six hours prior to the preparation of the shipment. The estimated time of arrival of the shipment at the airport must also be communicated via email.

The Ministry strongly urged exporters to obtain export permits and submit shipment notifications in advance. It cautioned that shipments dispatched without prior permits or notifications may face difficulties in obtaining the required International Veterinary Health Certificate. The Ministry further stated that it will not be held responsible for any losses or damages to shipments resulting from inspection delays in cases where the required procedures have not been followed.