Maldives

The law does not require tobacco industry disclosures to the government.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should require disclosure to the government by the tobacco industry of information on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship activities and expenditures.

The law does not require health warnings on permitted forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should require that health warnings accompany all permitted tobacco advertising and, “as appropriate, promotion and sponsorship”.

The law requires that relevant government ministries “organise and conduct sound programmes and activities to create awareness and provide information to the public on the harmful effects of tobacco production and tobacco smoking on health, economy, environment, and society. Such activities include … mak[ing] information on tobacco business publicly available in accordance with the law and regulations.” While no disclosure by the tobacco industry of information on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship activities and expenditures to the government is currently required, other information that is required to be disclosed to the government must be made available to the public. Additionally, the law permits additional regulations, which could require tobacco industry disclosure of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship to the government, thus providing for information to provide the public.

To fully align with best practice, as reflected in FCTC Art. 13.4(d) and FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines paras. 41 and 42, the law or future regulations should require disclosure to the government by the tobacco industry of information on advertising, promotion and sponsorship activities and expenditures, and make such disclosures readily available to the public.