President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced plans to propose amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, raising the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco and tobacco products from 18 to 21 years.
In a post on social media on Monday night, the President said a proposal will be submitted to Parliament on Tuesday as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to reduce tobacco use and promote a healthier society.
The government has already decided to ban the import of vaping products and their components from November 15 and the advertising of such products from December 15 this year.
In his post, the President said alongside banning the importation and use of vaping devices in the country, the government plans to raise the legal age for trading tobacco and tobacco products to 21, in an effort to deter young people from picking up the harmful habit. The President also noted that the amendments will propose stringent enforcement measures to address violations of the Tobacco Control Act.
The government plans to implement a comprehensive master plan aimed at finding a long-term solution to the tobacco problem in the country. A decision has been made to increase import duties on tobacco products next month, raising the fee from MVR 3 to MVR 8. Furthermore, the ad valorem rate on individual cigarette imports will be doubled, from 50 percent to 100 percent.
