President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has declared a total ban on vapes and vape-related products in the Maldives, instructing relevant authorities to enforce these changes by two specified deadlines.
The announcement was made via X, where the President outlined the new regulations. Effective November 15, 2024, the importation of all vape products and individual parts of vape devices will be prohibited. Furthermore, starting December 15, 2024, the use, possession, production, sale, advertisement, and distribution of all vape products will be banned.
This decision follows a significant number of requests from parents and healthcare providers advocating for the prohibition of electronic smoking devices in the Maldives. The NDC Alliance, an organization focused on combating non-communicable diseases, first called for a ban on September 12. This plea was supported by the Doctors Association, Nurses Association, and various sports organizations.
The issue gained further attention when a substantial quantity of vapes was discovered in a Malé school, prompting parents to petition for a ban. In light of these concerns, the government has initiated one of its most stringent anti-smoking measures in recent years.
Following the President's announcement, Attorney General Ahmed Usham confirmed that proposed amendments to existing laws will be submitted to Parliament within the week to facilitate the ban. Usham, also communicating via X, welcomed the vape ban, describing it as a decision made "for the sake of our children, youth, and the entire Maldivian population."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 150 individuals are expected to die from smoking-related causes in the Maldives, which has a population of just over half a million. The Doctors Association referenced WHO data indicating that smoking is responsible for 85 percent of lung cancer cases, with eight million deaths annually attributed to diseases caused by tobacco use. Out of these, 1.3 million deaths result from secondhand smoke.
Data from the Maldives Customs Service revealed that from 2018 to July of this year, vapes and e-cigarettes worth MVR 124,342,915 have been imported. Of this total, MVR 104,564 million was imported between 2018 and 2023, with MVR 19.5 million imported just from January to July this year.
