Minister Ihusan expressed confidence that the enforcement side would take all necessary measures to regulate tobacco effectively.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan, said that amendments to the Vape Import Ban and Tobacco Control Act will be implemented.
He emphasized that the changes resulting from the law will be evident on the streets.
"I assure you that law enforcement agencies will enforce the law rigorously. You will see a noticeable difference in our approach as enforcement agencies in tobacco control," he stated.
Minister Ihusan expressed confidence that the enforcement side would take all necessary measures to regulate tobacco effectively.
He added that the amendments to the law would also expand the roles of uniformed bodies in tobacco control efforts.
The bill proposing an amendment to increase the duty on vapes imported between November 1 and November 15 has been submitted to the parliament for consideration. After November 15, the duty on vapes will rise further, and President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced a ban on the sale and use of vapes starting December 15.
The amendment includes a 50 percent tax on electronic tobacco products and an increase in the import duty specific rate from MVR 3 to MVR 8.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has also announced plans to propose an amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, raising the legal age for the sale of tobacco and tobacco products from 18 to 21 as part of efforts to discourage young people from tobacco use.
The proposed amendments will also include stricter enforcement measures to address violations of the Tobacco Control Act, President Muizzu said.
The Tobacco Control Act, which has been in effect for 14 years, prohibits smoking in public places. Smoking in cafes and restaurants is only allowed in designated areas and violations of this regulation will result in a fine of MVR 500.
In light of concerns regarding the possibility of smuggling vapes into the Maldives, Minister Ihusan assured that the amendments to the law would be effectively implemented.
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