The Ministry of Defense has increased the time frame in acquiring a permit for the sale of chemicals by an additional month and stated that if it is not acquired by then, the company will not be given the permit to import chemicals into Maldives.

An announcement from the ministry reads that the deadline for businesses to apply for permits and register their chemical storage facilities through the Makudi portal has been reached.

However, the ministry said the number of businesses conducting the sale of chemicals that registered and requested a permit were relatively low.

And so, the ministry has decided to allocate an additional month for businesses to request a permit via the Makudi portal.

According to the ministry, those who continue selling chemicals without registering will have action taken against them under the Regulation on Hazardous Chemicals. The ministry also said they will not be given any more chances for seeking approval in importing hazardous chemicals into Maldives.

Following a fatal fire at a chemical warehouse in Henveiru in 2019, the government decided to relocate chemical storage facilities to Thilafushi. One person was killed in the incident and nearby homes sustained extensive damage.

According to the Ministry of Defense in 2024, there are 144 chemical storage facilities and 62 chemical retail outlets operating in Male'. The Fire and Rescue Service, which operates under the ministry, conducted "Operation Hiras Faas", a special activity in order to see whether chemical storage facilities in Male' were being run according to guidelines.