President Mohamed Muizzu has said the nationwide ban on vapes and e-cigarettes was introduced in response to public calls to safeguard the country’s youth from the harmful effects of vaping.
“People were asking us to save the country’s children from the plague of vape. Nothing can be done for the country unless the youth and the general public are safe,” the President said during a ceremony in Mahibadhoo Island in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll on Sunday, adding that the move aims to promote sustainable development.
The ban, effective from 12:00 a.m. Sunday, follows amendments to the Tobacco Control Act. It prohibits the sale, free distribution, and use of vapes and e-cigarettes nationwide.
Under the amended law, individuals caught using these devices will be fined MVR 5,000, while importers face a fine of MVR 50,000 and an additional MVR 10,000 per device. Sellers will be fined MVR 20,000, with an extra MVR 10,000 penalty for each device sold or distributed. Selling to minors carries a heavier penalty of MVR 50,000.
According to Maldives Customs Service, vaping devices worth MVR 124.3 million were imported into the Maldives between 2018 and July 2024. The government says the ban is part of broader efforts to curb the rising use of such products among the country’s youth.