Ihusan: Banning vape a national decision; the nation will be grateful

Home Minister Ihusan Ali has described President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s decision to ban vape in the Maldives as a national decision and one that which national will always be grateful for.

Minister Ihusan, via a post on X, thanked President Muizzu for banning vape which he described as something that can easily tempt the nation’s children towards drug addiction.

President Muizzu announced his decision to ban the import and use of vape in the Maldives via a post on X on Monday evening.

The President, in the post, said he has instructed to ban the import of vaping devices and parts of such devices starting from November 15^th and instructed all relevant authorities to undertake all efforts necessary to ban the use, possession, production, sale, advertisement and free distribution of vapes starting from December 15^th.

Attorney General Ahmed Usham, via a post on X following the President's announcement, said efforts were underway to submit the relevant amendments required to enforce the ban to the parliament. In this regard, he said efforts are underway to submit amendments to the Import and Export Act and and Tobacco Control Act within the course of this week.  

Notably, President Muizzu had established a sub-committee in his cabinet to research measures that can be implemented to save society from the dangers of vape which had held extensive discussions ahead of the decision.

The decision also came amid calls from various organizations to ban tobacco products in the Maldives, particularly vape and e-cigarettes. They include Maldives Doctors Association, Maldives Medical Association, Maldives Nurses Association and 21 sports associations.