News Desk
MALE’, Maldives — The Maldives government moved to crack down on electronic cigarettes enacting a sweeping ban on vape imports as part of broader tobacco control measures aimed at curbing what officials describe as a growing youth health crisis.
President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu signed legislation that immediately halts the import of vaping devices and will prohibit their sale, distribution and use starting next month. The law also raises the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21.
“Vaping has become a national problem, even penetrating our schools,” a government has said, highlighting concerns that mirror global debates about youth e-cigarette use.
The legislation imposes stiff penalties, including fines of up to 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa (approximately $3,250) for importing vaping devices. Sellers face fines of 20,000 rufiyaa, with additional penalties for each device sold. The law is particularly harsh on those caught selling to minors, with fines reaching 50,000 rufiyaa per incident.
Customs data shows the scale of the vaping market in this Indian Ocean nation: imports of e-cigarettes and related products between 2018 and mid-2023 totaled more than 124 million rufiyaa (about $8 million), with nearly 20 million rufiyaa in imports recorded in just the first seven months of the year.
The Maldives joins more than 30 countries that have banned vaping products, including seven nations in the region. The new law also extends smoking restrictions to government offices operating in leased private buildings.
The move represents one of the most significant tobacco control measures in the country’s history, as health officials grapple with rising e-cigarette use among young people.
