An MVR 1 million penalty can now be imposed if the National Standard for Labeling Prepackaged Food is violated.
Under the Food Safety Act, the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has introduced and has begun enforcing the 'National Standard for Labeling Prepackaged Food', meant for food that is produced in Maldives and food that is exported from Maldives.
The standard has banned the use of single-use plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in packaging food items. Along with that, if the National Standard for Labeling Prepackaged Food is violated, hefty fines will be imposed as well:
- Importing food items with altered labels under one's own name or via another individual under that person's name or the production, preparation, packaging, or sale of said food items for business purposes is prohibited. If violated, a fine between MVR 10,000 and MVR 70,000 can be imposed with license confiscation and registry voided.
- Re-registration and re-acquisition of the license can only be done after correcting the violation and after the period of license confiscation expires.
- First-time violations will result in an MVR 10,000 fine and license confiscation of 7 days. A second violation will result in an MVR 100,000 fine and license confiscation of 15 days.
- If it is repeated a third time, it will result in an MVR 750,000 fine and the license or registry being voided.
- If their actions result in the endangerment of someone's health or their life, they will be fined up to MVR 1,000,000, with their license being voided.
The standard for labeling food items has been written up as such so that major penalties can be imposed:
- First offense: MVR 10,000 fine
- Second offense: MVR 100,000 fine
- Third offense: MVR 500,000 fine
- Fourth offense: MVR 750,000 fine
If there is a fifth offense or additional offenses afterward, a fine of MVR 1,000,000 will be imposed and their license will be voided.
If the standard in packaging food items is violated:
- First offense: MVR 5,000 fine
- Second offense: MVR 10,000 fine
- Third offense: MVR 50,000 fine
- Fourth offense: MVR 75,000 fine
- Fifth offense and subsequent offenses: MVR 100,000 fine
MFDA stated that those who violate the standard will be subject to administrative action along with being criminally charged. They also said that if imported food items violate the Food Safety Act and cause damages, compensation can be sought.
