President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified an amendment to the Export‑Import Act that slashes the specific import duty on cigarettes from USD 0.52 to USD 0.26 per stick.
The legislation, passed by the Parliament a day earlier, also imposes a 30 percent ad‑valorem duty on top of the specific rate and makes nicotine chewing gum, nicotine patches and other nicotine‑replacement products exempt from import duties. The amendment was gazetted on 2 July and entered into force immediately.
The government has acknowledged that the lower duty will trim the budget’s projected import‑duty revenue. The move reverses a November 2024 revision that raised the cigarette duty from USD 0.21 to USD 0.52.
The government has said that the duty cut follows advice from the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce tobacco affordability while preserving a strong anti‑tobacco framework. In recent years the Maldives has introduced a generational ban on tobacco products, prohibited the import and sale of e‑cigarettes, and launched a national tobacco‑control campaign – announced on 31 May and officially kicked off on 27 June.
The relevant ministries are required to update the relevant rules and regulations within 30 days of the amendment’s entry into force. The government has stressed that the duty reduction does not undermine the broader goal of eradicating tobacco use, but complements existing measures aimed at protecting public health.