Maldives Issues Over 430 Licenses Under Amended Tobacco Control Act

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued 437 vendor licenses under the amended Tobacco Control Act to regulate tobacco use and protect public health.

Under the updated legislation, all businesses selling tobacco products are now required to obtain a dedicated license from the Ministry of Health in addition to their standard business permit from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

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As part of the wider regulatory framework, 312 tobacco products have been officially registered across the country. The HPA has also issued 31 tobacco import licenses and two re-export licenses. These measures form part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce tobacco-related non-communicable diseases, which remain a leading cause of preventable death in the Maldives.

Other key actions include raising the legal age for tobacco purchases to 21, increasing duties on tobacco products, and banning the import of electronic cigarettes and vapes, effective 15 November 2024. A generational ban, effective for those born on or after 1 January 2007, prohibits these individuals from ever legally purchasing or using tobacco.

The government emphasises that these policies are essential for creating a tobacco-free future and safeguarding the long-term health of Maldivian citizens.