President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to implement a generational tobacco ban, prohibiting the sale, purchase, and use of tobacco products for individuals born on or after January 1, 2007.
The decision was made during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, after discussing a proposal from the Health Ministry. Enforcement agencies have been instructed to begin amending relevant laws and regulations to facilitate the introduction of the ban.
The cabinet decision specified the allocation of a six-month period for enforcement authorities to revise existing regulations following the amendment and ratification of the law. The new legislation is set to come into force on November 01, 2025.
The decision further instructed the Finance Ministry to work closely with the Health Ministry to ensure improved access to tobacco cessation services across the country.
Last year, the government decided to develop a four-year plan to tackle the tobacco problem. But the plan has not been publicized.
But laws were changed to ban the import of vapes from November 15, 2024 and the use of vapes from December 15, 2024.
Laws were also changed to increase the import duty on each cigarette to MVR 8 since November 2024. Duty on other tobacco products was increased by 50 percent.
This has created a black market of low-quality cigarettes.
The UK is currently the only country implementing a generation ban on smoking. The country banned tobacco for people born after 2009.
New Zealand passed a similar law in December 2022, but withdrew it in November 2023 because of the risk of a black market.
Malaysia is consulting on a similar bill, while Denmark is also discussing a generation ban.
