The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has given businesses six months to comply with the new food packaging and labelling regulations before penalties and enforcement measures take effect.

The regulation, which came into force upon publication in the Government Gazette, replaces the previous national standard governing the labelling of packaged food products. MFDA said the new rules are aimed at strengthening food safety and ensuring consumers receive accurate information about food products available on the market.

Under the regulation, all food products must be packaged using food-grade materials specifically intended for food use. The rules also prohibit the packaging of food in single-use plastic containers, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, that are not certified as food-grade. In addition, the import, manufacture, labelling or sale of food products that are incorrectly labelled at their point of origin has been classified as an offence.

MFDA has been granted the authority to withhold, suspend or revoke licences and registrations issued to importers, exporters and food labelling businesses where negligence poses a risk to public health.

The regulation establishes a series of penalties for the import or manufacture of mislabelled food products. A first offence carries a fine of MVR 10,000 and a seven-day licence suspension. A second offence is punishable by a MVR 100,000 fine and a 15-day suspension, while a third offence carries a fine of MVR 750,000 and licence cancellation. Where incorrect labelling results in harm to health or endangers lives, MFDA may impose fines of up to MVR 1 million.

Separate penalties have also been introduced for general labelling violations. Offenders face fines ranging from MVR 10,000 for a first offence to MVR 1 million for repeated violations, with licences subject to revocation after multiple offences.

MFDA said food businesses have six months to ensure packaging materials meet the new food-grade standards, replace non-compliant containers and update product labels in accordance with the regulation. Failure to comply after the transition period could result in fines, licence suspensions or the cancellation of operating licences.