Maldives ends duty-free allowance on tobacco
Tourists bringing nicotine items to the Maldives must now declare these products at Customs.
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As part of a tightening stance on tobacco and nicotine products, the Maldives has rolled out new measures impacting tourists, retailers, and consumers.
The Commissioner General of Customs, Fathimath Dhiyana, has issued directives that end duty incentives on tobacco and nicotine items, including devices like e-cigarettes and shisha, previously enjoyed under certain import conditions. These changes are expected to impact both the availability and pricing of such products, particularly affecting the tourism sector and domestic markets.
Previously, there were limited duty exemptions for items such as tobacco, nicotine products, and related devices. These exemptions have now been fully removed. Customs officials will strictly enforce the new rule, which mandates that any duty allowances previously available to tobacco and nicotine products no longer apply. This is the third time the government has reconsidered duty incentives for these products, with two prior postponements.
Under the policy ‘Duty Exemption on Goods Imported by Tourists, Small Consumer Goods, and Business Samples,’ the government has raised the duty-free threshold for small consumer goods brought by tourists and private individuals to MVR 10,000.
However, this increased allowance does not extend to tobacco and nicotine products. Tourists bringing nicotine items to the Maldives must now declare these products at Customs.
Additionally, tourists can no longer bring in large quantities of cigarettes without incurring duties. The new rule limits tourists to a single pack of cigarettes containing up to 19 cigarettes. If a tourist brings in more than this amount, the excess will be withheld by Customs and stored until their departure from the Maldives, at which point it will be returned.
Effective November 1, new taxes on cigarettes have come into force. The Import-Export Act has also been amended to increase the import duty on tobacco products.
Further changes will come into effect on November 15, when vaping materials, including individual parts for vape devices, will be fully banned.
