Tag: Maldives

Maldives Ends Bonding Option for Tobacco

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Tobacco products can no longer be bonded in the Maldives following an amendment of the island nation’s customs regulations, reports The Edition.
Bonding allows companies to store imported products in a warehouse without having to immediately pay import duties. The goods are kept “in bond” under customs control until they are taken out of the warehouse for sale or distribution within the country.
Following the change of rules, importers of tobacco products in Maldives must pay import duties as a lump sum in one go when goods are cleared within the set timeframe.
The amendment also changes the penalties for fraudulent imports. Individuals or organization caught bringing products into the country without inward and outward cargo manifests risk a fine of MVR200,000 ($12,937) per instance.
These regulations also impose a fine of MVR100,000 if the vessel carrying goods travels or docks contrary to the documents submitted to customs as the place of port, route or area used to enter Maldives. Mariners who turn of their vessels automatic identification system risk a fine of MVR200,000.
Last month, the government announced a ban on e-cigarettes, set to take effect between Nov. 15, 2024, and Dec. 15, 2024. It also raised duties on cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco.
November 3, 2024
Maldives Intercepts Illegal Cigarette Shipment

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The Maldives Customs Service intercepted more than 8,000 cartons of cigarettes illegally shipped into the country on a fuel tanker operated by Hawks, one of the nation’s leading fuel importers and distributors, reports The Edition.
Under a court order, authorities subsequently searched the Hawks Boatyard on suspicion that more cigarette cartons may be stored there. “So far in this operation, approximately 1,695 million cigarette sticks of Manchester brand have been found during the search of Hawks Boatyard, in the accommodation block and workshop,” the customs service wrote in a statement.
The agency said that the cigarettes were brought in on MT Hawks Javaahiru and taken to Thilafushi on a local boat owned by the company, which was unloaded after regular business hours.
A senior Hawks official told Mihaaru News that company management was not involved in the smuggling operation. “We are also hearing that this was done by some employees in connection with some foreigners,” he was quoted as saying. “Our management only learned of this when police also came with a court order to search the premises,” the official said.
The official said Hawks was cooperating with authorities and would conduct an internal investigation.
October 29, 2024
President Wants Higher Tobacco Sales Age

Photo courtesy of Syed Rashid Alli
The president of Maldives wants to raise the legal age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21, reports The Edition.
In a post on the social media platform X, Mohamed Muizzu announced that he will propose amendments to the Tobacco Control Act as part of efforts to discourage young people from adopting tobacco use.
The revisions will also include stricter enforcement measures to address violations of the law.
Earlier this month, Muizzu announced a ban on the sale and use of vapes starting Dec. 15, with instructions to relevant authorities to take action on November 14.
The amendment includes a 50 percent tax on electronic tobacco products and a charge of MVR8 ($0.51) per sticker. It also calls for an MVR8 fee for flavors and chemicals added to tobacco products.
October 24, 2024
Maldives to Raise Tobacco Import Duties

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The Maldives will raise the import duty on tobacco products from MVR3 ($0.19) to MVR8 from November onward, reports The Edition.
In a post on social media platform X, President Mohamed Muizzu announced several actions to discourage the use of tobacco products. In addition to raising import duties, the government will increase its ad valorem take from tobacco products by 50 percent and ban smoking in public places.
Earlier this week, the president announced that a ban on the import, sale, distribution, advertising and use of vapes would take effect in November.
October 17, 2024
Maldives to Ban Vapes

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The Maldives will ban e-cigarettes and related products, reports The Edition, citing an announcement by President Mohamed Muizzu on X. Lawmakers will receive proposed amendments to the island nation’s legislation this week.
According to the post, the Maldives will outlaw import of all vape products and parts of vape devices from Nov. 15, 2024. Additionally, the use, possession, production, sale, advertisement and distribution of all vape products will become illegal from Dec.15, 2024.
This decision follows numerous requests from concerned parents, health service providers and groups such as NDC Alliance and the Doctors Association and Nurses Association.
According to figures shared with Mihaaru News by Maldives Customs Service, local businesses imported vapes worth MVR124.34 million between 2018 and July of this year.
Currently, some 50 countries ban vapes, including at least five countries in Asia.
October 15, 2024
Maldives: Call for Higher Tobacco Taxes

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The Maldives’ Health Protection Agency (HPA) has recommended higher taxes to deter tobacco use, reports The Edition.
In an article published on the Ministry of Health website, the HPA expressed concern over the increasing use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches among teenagers and youth.
According to a 2021-2022 survey, some children in the Maldives begin using tobacco as young as eight years old.
The Maldives spends MVR1.8 billion ($116,896) annually to import 400 million cigarettes. Significant amounts are also spent on importing e-cigarettes and shisha tobacco, according to the HPA.
The agency called for further restrictions on tobacco advertising and marketing, along with bans on public smoking to reduce exposure.
August 6, 2024
Maldives to Ditch Import Duty Exemptions

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The Maldivian government will eliminate import duty exemptions on vape products next month, reports The Edition.
Deputy Chief Superintendent of Maldives Customs Service Ahmed Niyaz said that the duty exemption previously allowed for tobacco products and vape appliances will be removed starting August 1
“The Maldives has signed many international treaties on health,” he was quoted as saying. “Allowing exemptions for things such as tobacco is not encouraged by the treaties.”
July 7, 2024
Loose change
It is now illegal to sell single cigarettes on the Maldives, according to a story in The Maldives Independent.
The ban, which came into force on Saturday, is the first provision of the January 2019 regulation on tobacco-products pack design and labeling to come into effect.
Other provisions, including graphic health warnings on tobacco-products packaging, are due to come into effect later this year.
From November 1, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products without graphic health warnings.
The ban on the sale of loose cigarettes and the graphic-images requirement were drawn up two years ago, but their introduction was delayed until a new government took over.
The sale of single cigarettes needed to be banned because “it is a tactic mainly used to lure children and young adolescents into smoking,” Dr Aishath Aroona, vice chair of the Tobacco Control Board, told the Maldives Independent after the regulation on packaging and labeling of tobacco products was submitted to the president’s office for approval in September 2017.
Meanwhile, in May 2019, Malé City Council decided to introduce a ban on smoking on the streets of the Maldives capital. It is due to take effect six months after the council enacts new regulations, according to the council.
The country’s 2010 Tobacco Control Act prohibits smoking in government offices, parks, sports stadiums, public transport, childcare or educational facilities and designated non-smoking areas in restaurants. The law did not include streets and roads in its definition of a public space.
June 3, 2019