President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has described food safety as the cornerstone of public health and economic resilience, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening national standards.

In a post shared on his official X account to mark World Food Safety Day, President Dr Muizzu emphasised the vital role of science and evidence-based practices in preventing foodborne illnesses, safeguarding public health, and supporting economic growth. This year’s theme, Food Safety: Science in Action, underscores that focus.

He reiterated the Government’s pledge to ensure that all food consumed in the Maldives is safe, nutritious and trustworthy, and called for collective responsibility across all sectors to uphold the nation’s food safety agenda.

In a separate statement, the President also highlighted the enactment of the Food Safety Act in 2024 as a significant milestone. The Act sets out a comprehensive legal framework for regulating food safety in the Maldives. It establishes clear standards for every stage of the food supply chain, including packaging, labelling, storage, preparation, distribution and trade, to ensure all food, whether produced locally or imported, is free from harmful substances and safe for consumption.

This message builds on President Dr Muizzu’s consistent emphasis on national food security. In earlier statements, he outlined the Government’s strategic plan to achieve this goal by prioritising islands active in agriculture and attracting investment to scale up local food production. The initiative aims to produce enough food to meet the needs of all Maldivians within the next two to three years.

The President has also highlighted the Administration’s broader ambition to foster self-sufficiency as part of efforts to strengthen national resilience and reduce dependency on external systems.