The Maldivian Parliament has passed an amendment to the Export-Import Act, reducing import duties on selected tobacco products. The bill was later ratified by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and published in the Government Gazette.
Under the new law, import duty on cigarettes, bidis, and heated tobacco products has been set at MVR 4, along with an additional 30 percent levy on these items. This marks a change from the previous rate, which had increased to MVR 8 per unit in November 2024.
The government stated that the decision was made in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO). At the same time, duties on nicotine replacement products such as chewing gum and patches have been reduced to support smoking cessation efforts.
Authorities also highlighted ongoing public health measures, including a national tobacco control campaign launched on June 27. The new regulations are required to be issued within 30 days as part of the implementation process.
