The Maldives Food and Drugs Authority (MFDA) has reported a substantial reduction in food safety issues since the ratification and implementation of the Food Safety Act. Enacted in May 2024, this legislation offers a comprehensive framework for the regulation of food safety, ensuring all food products—whether domestically produced, imported, or exported—are devoid of harmful substances and adhere to established standards.
Proposed by the current administration, the Food Safety Act is designed to ensure all food and beverages entering the country meet rigorous safety criteria. The law stipulates explicit procedures and standards that must be followed by all stakeholders within the food industry, including producers and vendors. It also authorises the MFDA to enact stringent punitive measures against non-compliant food service providers and production facilities.
Aminath Shabana Ali, Food Quality Assurance Coordinator at MFDA, told PSM News that the authority has ramped up inspections of food production and retail establishments since the law's enactment. MFDA ensures adherence to recommended storage temperatures for food items during these inspections, she said.
Ali noted that the new law has endowed the MFDA with additional powers to take punitive action against violators of food safety regulations. This empowerment has led to a significant decline in issues identified during MFDA inspections, she added.
"When we receive a complaint from the public, we inspect the concerned shop. If any issues are found, we immediately instruct shop owners to remove the problematic food products from the shelves," Ali explained. "However, we have observed that some shop owners or clerks replace these items once our inspectors leave. The new law empowers us to take punitive measures against such practices."
Ali also highlighted the importance of compliance with the law and relevant regulations, which also extends to food producers. She elaborated that the MFDA has received complaints about improperly labelled food items produced in local homes and sold in shops. She urged all food producers and manufacturers, especially those preparing food at home for sale, to comply with the law and accompanying regulations.
According to the Food Safety Act, all food sellers and producers must be registered with the MFDA. Food items can only be sold at registered outlets or shops. The law's primary objective is to establish standards for various aspects of food production and preparation, including packaging, labelling, preservation, storage, trade, supply, and distribution. It also delineates the standards and licensing requirements for establishments involved in these processes, specifying the hygiene standards individuals must follow to ensure food safety.