President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, upon his Cabinet’s recommendation, 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 Ministry of Health. 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 Ministry of Finance and Planning to work closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure improved access to tobacco cessation services across the country.
The President previously launched a special poll on his official X account to gather public opinion on the appropriate age for enforcing the generational tobacco ban. This marked the first time a sitting Maldivian President had used a social media platform to crowdsource views on a major policy initiative. The President had also publicly urged tobacco vendors to discontinue the sale of tobacco products and consider transitioning to alternative business ventures.