President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified new amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, introducing a nationwide ban on vaping devices and e-cigarettes in the Maldives. The legislation, which was passed by Parliament on Tuesday with a majority vote of 54 in favor and eight abstentions, prohibits the import, sale, distribution, and use of vaping products.
Starting Friday, the importation of e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and spare parts will be banned. The full prohibition on the use, possession, production, sale, distribution, and advertisement of these products will come into effect on December 15.
Under the new law, a fine of MVR 50,000 will be imposed for the distribution of vaping products to minors. Additional provisions in the law include:
- A ban on tobacco use in all government buildings and their surrounding areas.
- Fines for both users and property owners who violate tobacco use laws in business or service establishments, along with the possibility of suspending smoking permits and temporarily revoking business licenses.
- The sale of tobacco products will be restricted to those over 21, with ID checks required to verify the buyer's age.
- Tobacco product advertising and the display of tobacco packaging in public retail spaces will be prohibited.
- Growing or producing tobacco plants or products in the Maldives is also banned, along with the importation of tobacco plants, seeds, and related products.
Additionally, tobacco import duties have been raised following the enactment of another law, which increases the import duty on cigarettes and beedi from MVR 3 to MVR 8, and raises the ad valorem tax by 50%. This adjustment, ratified by the president on October 31, has led to price hikes, with the cost of a pack of cigarettes reaching up to MVR 250, and a carton priced at MVR 2,240.
The government expects the tobacco tax increases to generate an additional MVR 1.05 billion in revenue next year.