Home Minister Ali Ihusan stated today that following advice received from the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce the tobacco import duty to MVR 4, a decision has been made among relevant government authorities to discuss making that change.
At a press conference held this afternoon at the President's Office in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day, Minister Ihusan stated that along with the ban on vapes in the Maldives, the government increased the duty on cigarettes in 2024, taking into account that those who used vapes back then might suddenly start using tobacco or cigarettes.
The last change brought to the tobacco import duty was in November 2024. At the time, the duty collected per cigarette was increased from MVR 3.30 to MVR 8.
The Minister stated that bringing changes to the duty rate is a tactic utilized in all countries to control tobacco. He noted that the government last increased the tobacco import duty because all studies conducted at the time, alongside advice received from experts, indicated that many people would use tobacco following the ban on vapes.
"That was a difficult decision the government took back then, to increase the duty rate (of cigarettes) to MVR 8," Ihusan said.
However, Minister Ihusan stated that bringing necessary changes to the duty in order to carry forward the measures taken to control tobacco in a sustainable manner is something the government will always do, and that the rate will be maintained based on the results shown by studies conducted at any given time.
"From some of the studies available to us at the moment, especially a study conducted by the WHO, one duty rate recommended for the Maldives is a specific rate of MVR 4 for the year 2026," Minister Ihusan said.
"This is a rate we are indeed considering even now."
According to Minister Ihusan, discussions will be held with all relevant authorities and all stakeholders before bringing changes to the tobacco import duty rate. He stated that following discussions, if everyone agrees that changes must be brought to the rate, the government will submit that advice to the Parliament to amend the law.
