Regulatory oversight of live fish exports has been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, centralising the issuance of export permits and International Veterinary Health Certificates under a single authority.
The Ministry announced that it has assumed responsibility for these functions, which were previously managed by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority. As a result, all procedures related to the export of live fish from the Maldives, including health certification, will now be handled directly by the Ministry.
Applications for live fish export permits must be submitted through the Ministry’s online portal. The Ministry stated that new companies are required to link their corporate profile with the applicant’s eFaas account. To complete this process, companies must email a copy of their registration certificate along with the applicant’s National ID card to the Ministry.
Processing time for export permits is estimated at two to three working days, and exporters have been advised to submit applications well in advance of shipment schedules. Applications must include detailed information on the species and the estimated quantity intended for export.
International Veterinary Health Certificates will be issued only after a physical inspection of the shipment is conducted at Velana International Airport by an official veterinarian from the Ministry. Exporters are required to notify the Ministry at least six hours prior to shipment preparation and to communicate the estimated time of arrival at the airport via email.
The Ministry has cautioned that shipments without prior permits or notification may face delays in the issuance of health certificates. It also stated that it will not assume responsibility for losses or damages arising from inspection delays where exporters fail to comply with the advance notification requirements.
