The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has announced that the government has initiated the establishment of a modern National Food Safety Laboratory, a project intended to give the country a fully equipped facility for rapid, detailed testing of imported foodstuffs.
Speaking on the PSM News programme Raajje Miadhu, Deputy Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Ismail Zahir said the feasibility report for the laboratory’s construction on Hulhumale’ has been completed and architectural drawings are now in progress.
“We expect to announce the final project details in the last quarter of this year,” he noted, adding that the initiative is being financed through a donor‑funded programme.
Once completed, the laboratory will house state‑of‑the‑art equipment capable of detecting heavy metals, pesticide residues, and other chemical contaminants—areas that have long demanded sophisticated instruments.
Earlier this year, the President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in his presidential address promised the installation of such machinery, and Zahir confirmed that the heavy‑metal and pesticide testing units have already been installed.
“We are currently procuring the necessary chemicals and consumables, and this work will continue throughout the year,” he explained.
MFDA Food Safety Assurance Coordinator Khaalisa Mohamed said the new laboratory will “round off” the authority’s regulatory duties.
“Having a full‑fledged lab, especially for pesticides and heavy metals, will address a major gap in our food‑safety framework,” she pointed out.
“It will allow us to conduct high‑precision analyses in‑country rather than relying on external labs, thereby speeding up the clearance of imports.”
According to the MFDA, the Maldives already possesses one of the most comprehensive sets of world‑class analytical instruments for food‑safety testing in the region. Under the Maldives Food Safety Act, the laboratory will be tasked with scientifically analysing hazardous bacteria and chemical contaminants, and must operate in line with international “Good Laboratory Practice” (GLP) standards, staffed by trained professionals.
The authority said it is now focused on building national technical capacity and finalising the necessary regulations to ensure the laboratory meets both domestic and international safety benchmarks.