Govt won't reduce tobacco, vape fines: President

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the government does not intend to reduce fines related to tobacco and vape offences.

He made the remarks during a press briefing at a ceremony held at the President’s Office on Wednesday, where he ratified the bill passed by Parliament to ban the sale of tobacco products to individuals born from 2007 onwards, effective from November.

In response to a journalist’s question about the existing penalties, the President said he does not believe there is a need to amend the law to reduce fines. Instead, he said the government would focus on implementing the law more effectively.

“I don’t think the laws need to be changed any further [to reduce fines]. However, I would think more about what we need to do to be more careful in implementing the laws that have already been made,” President Muizzu said.

He added that while some individuals may have been fined significant amounts, such cases would be reviewed on an individual basis.

“But anyway, the fines must be paid. Laws and regulations have been made for this,” he said.

The President ratified the amendment to the Tobacco Control Act in November last year, which banned the use and import of electronic cigarettes and vaping products in the Maldives. The amendment introduced a series of financial penalties for violations, including:

Earlier, the Maldives Customs Service informed Parliament that fines imposed on individuals for smuggling vapes exceeded MVR 40 million. Customs also noted that it was questionable for the state to collect such a large sum in fines from individuals.

Despite these concerns, the President stated that existing legislation would remain unchanged, and enforcement would continue.