The Maldives Food and Drugs Authority (MFDA) has reported a significant decline in food safety issues following the implementation of the Food Safety Act, which came into effect in May 2024.
The legislation proposed by the current administration sets stringent guidelines to regulate the safety of food and beverage products, ensuring all domestically produced, imported, and exported items meet strict safety standards. Since the enactment of the law, MFDA has intensified its inspection efforts across food production and retail sectors to verify compliance with recommended food storage temperatures and overall food safety practices.
According to Aminath Shabana Ali, Food Quality Assurance Coordinator at MFDA, as reported by state media, the authority now possesses greater enforcement powers, allowing it to impose strict punitive actions against establishments found violating food safety regulations. These strengthened regulatory measures have directly contributed to the reduced frequency of food-related issues encountered during inspections.
The MFDA typically acts upon complaints received from the public by inspecting the relevant establishments. If inspectors detect issues, business owners are immediately directed to remove problematic products from sale. However, authorities have noted instances where shopkeepers briefly comply only to later re-display the problematic items. The Food Safety Act explicitly allows the MFDA to take action against such deceptive practices.
In addition to addressing retailer compliance, MFDA has emphasised the necessity of appropriate labelling, particularly highlighting issues with homemade food products sold commercially. Many locally produced food items have reportedly failed to comply with mandatory labelling standards, prompting the MFDA to call on local producers and manufacturers to adhere to regulations outlined by the act.
Under the Food Safety Act, all entities engaged in food production and sales must be officially registered with the MFDA, and food products may only be sold through registered outlets. The legislation clearly defines standards and licensing requirements for various stages of food handling, including packaging, labelling, storage, preservation, distribution, and hygiene.
The law’s ultimate aim is to foster greater transparency and accountability within the food industry, safeguarding consumer health by ensuring the quality and safety of food products throughout the Maldives.
