Maldives receives international award for tobacco control measures

The Maldives has received an international award for its tobacco control measures.

The Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC), an organisation that examines tobacco control policies and their implementation worldwide, presented the Integrity Award to the Maldives.

The award was presented on the sidelines of the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 17 to 22 November.

The Maldives’ Ambassador to Geneva, Dr Salma Rasheed, accepted the award on behalf of the government.

GGTC considered several factors in selecting the Maldives for the award, including its score on the Tobacco Industry Interference Index. The index, published every two years, assesses the extent to which national tobacco control measures are transparent and free from industry influence.

According to GGTC, the award reflects the Maldives’ efforts to implement tobacco control policies aimed at protecting public health.

A nationwide generational ban on tobacco for individuals born on or after 1 January 2007 took effect this month. Anyone selling tobacco products must confirm that the buyer meets the legal age requirement. The Maldives is the first country to implement such a nationwide ban.

The import and use of vaping products have also been prohibited since December, with significant penalties in place for violations.