President Mohamed Muizzu has reconstituted the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) in accordance with the new Food Safety Act (Act No. 6/2024), which came into effect on Friday amid a surge in the sale of unsanitary and unsafe food. The reconstitution follows the dissolution of the previous MFDA, which had limited enforcement powers.
Muizzu had previously, on 23 May, ratified the Act after Parliament passed it on 13 May.
The Act outlines the procedures and standards for food safety within the food industry, as well as the necessary measures to ensure that food is safe for human consumption.
The Act empowers the newly constituted MFDA to impose fines and shutter establishments that violate standards and regulations, including empowering the agency to;
- Impose fines of up to MVR 1 million where food is produced and sold in contravention of the Act
- Take criminal action against such persons who violate the Act
- Enter food processing establishments for inspection
- Shutter non-compliant establishments and to sanction reopening once in compliance
Meanwhile, Maldives Immigration, along with several state agencies including the MFDA, is currently working to identify and take action against unregistered businesses run by illegal immigrants.