President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has decided to raise the import duty on tobacco products to eight percent from November onwards.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has decided to raise the import duty on tobacco products to eight percent from November onwards.
Smoking in public places are also to be banned.
In a post on social media X, the President said that a number of major actions will be taken from November onwards to discourage the use of tobacco products. This includes:
- Import duty's specific rate on cigarettes and other such products to be raised from MVR 3 to MVR 8
- Ad valorem rate taken from tobacco products to be raised by 50 percent
In addition to this, enforcement authorities will be further empowered to implement ban on smoking in public places.
He called for cooperation from all in the efforts to create a tobacco-free society.
The President also announced yesterday that a ban on import, sale, distribution, advertising and use of vapes will also be introduced in November.