According to PSM. News on November 14, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has approved the first amendment to the Tobacco Control Act. The amendment was passed by Parliament on November 12.
The bill prohibits the import, sale, free distribution and use of vapes and products designed for these devices in the Maldives.
Once the bill is approved and implemented, tobacco use will be prohibited in all government agency buildings and their affiliated venues. Users and property owners or operators who illegally use tobacco in commercial or service places will be fined, smoking permits may be suspended, and business licenses may be temporarily revoked.
The bill also prohibits the sale of any tobacco or related products to individuals under the age of 21, prohibits persons under the age of 21 from participating in tobacco sales transactions, or the sale of such products without verifying the age of the purchaser through an ID card or official document. Any individual who sells or distributes vape products to minors will face a fine of $3,242, as well as other penalties for the sale and distribution of such devices. Public display or advertising of these products will also be prohibited.
The amendment also prohibits the import, sale, free distribution and use of products such as vapes. If such items are imported into the Maldives, a fine of $3,242 will be imposed, as well as a fine of $648 for each single item. The bill stipulates that the sale of any type of vape products will be fined $1,297 and $648 for each single item.
In addition, the implementation of the bill also prohibits the cultivation of any tobacco plants or the production of tobacco products in the Maldives, the import of tobacco plants, seeds or any part that can be used to grow tobacco, and the manufacture of any tobacco products in the Maldives. At the same time, the illegal import, export, distribution or sale of tobacco, vapes and products designed for these devices are also prohibited.
The amendment to the Tobacco Control Act has been published in the Government Gazette after being approved. The provisions related to vape products will come into effect on December 15, while other provisions will take effect from November 15.
For vape manufacturers such as Veehoo, this severe regulatory change will have a far-reaching impact on their business. According to the amendment, any individual who sells or distributes vape products to minors will face high fines, which is of great significance to protecting the health of young people and preventing underage smoking. In addition, public display or advertising of these products will also be prohibited, which will pose new challenges to Veehoo’s marketing and sales strategies.
In addition, the amendments also include a ban on the cultivation of any tobacco plants or the production of tobacco products in the Maldives, as well as strict control over the illegal import, export, distribution or sale of tobacco, vapes and related products. This has brought major changes to the entire tobacco industry, and has also reminded companies such as Veehoo to pay attention to and comply with the regulations and policies of different countries and regions around the world.
The implementation of this measure will pose new challenges to Veehoo and other vape companies in product development, market expansion and regulatory compliance in the future, requiring them to respond flexibly and seek development strategies that comply with regulations. Under this global trend of tobacco control, companies will have to pay more attention to product safety, compliance and social responsibility to adapt to the changing regulatory environment and market demands.
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