Gov’t takes further steps to restrict the market for imported tobacco products

The Ministry of Health has instructed Maldives Customs Service to seize and destroy any tobacco-related products imported into the country, as the production of tobacco is prohibited in the Maldives.

In a letter sent to the Customs Commissioner on 24 December 2024, the health ministry stated that under Article 10 of the 10th Amendment to Law No. 15/2010 (Tobacco Control Act), the production of tobacco and tobacco products in any quantity is prohibited in the Maldives.

The letter further states that according to Article 42 (L) of the law, tobacco, tobacco residue, nicotine, and products prepared with tobacco, tobacco residue, and nicotine, as well as any substance containing any amount of these ingredients that can be held, drunk, inhaled, applied to the body, rubbed, or otherwise used to deliver the substance or substances to the body, are considered tobacco products.

The ministry’s letter goes on to instruct that as the production of tobacco products is prohibited, if any item or equipment used for producing any type of tobacco product is imported by any party, the ministry requests that such items be seized and destroyed.

The health ministry's letter clearly states that any items used to produce tobacco products such as cigarettes, beedi, and cigars cannot be imported into the country.

Although the import of equipment used to produce tobacco products is banned, the import of beedi, cigars, and cigarettes is still permitted. However, with the duty on these items increased by 50 percent, the price of cigarettes has roughly doubled, with a pack now costing between MVR 140 and MVR 150.

With the change in law increasing the import duty on cigarettes and beedis from MVR three to MVR eight, the government has estimated an additional revenue of MVR 1.1 billion this year.

Many people have taken to social media, stating that according to the health ministry's letter to customs, the government is forcing tobacco users to purchase expensive imported tobacco products.

While the public is saying this, the government's budget submitted to the People's Majlis for this year states that the decision to increase import duty on cigarettes and beedi was proposed as a policy to increase state revenue.

According to the budget summary booklet prepared by the Ministry of Finance and Planning, increasing tobacco duty is one of the six main policies proposed by the government to increase revenue for the year 2025.

Critics have stated that the only way for the government to ensure the revenue it wants from tobacco products is by closing the doors to self-production and consumption of tobacco products and forcing people to buy only imported products.

Vaping and its trade have also been banned in the Maldives since 15 December 2024.