Last updated: August 2, 2022

Penalties

Sanctions

Sales Restrictions

Fine, Business License suspension or revocation, Other

(e.g., seizure of the product, publication of the violation/violator)

Analysis

Violators of the ban on the sale of single cigarettes are subject to a fine of 10 times the total amount including price, tax and other fees of the product used to commit the offense. For a second offense, violators are subject to a fine of 5,000 Rufiyaa in addition to the initial fine. For a third offense, violators are subject to a fine of 10,000 Rufiyaa in addition to the initial fine. For a fourth offense, violators are subject to a fine of 20,000 Rufiyaa in addition to the initial fine. The highest amount of fine prescribed under the Act will be levied on the fifth time. In all instances, the minimum fine is 500 Rufiyaa and the maximum fine is 100,000 Rufiyaa. In addition, violators may have their tobacco license suspended or revoked, and items used in the violation may be seized and destroyed. The enforcement agency is the Ministry of Health or other concerned authorities of the state, under an arrangement made between the Health Protection Agency responsible for enforcing this Regulation and other potential enforcement authorities of the state.

Location-based Sales Restrictions

N/A
Analysis

Tobacco sales are not restricted by location; therefore, there are no associated penalties.

Minimum Retail Package Size

Fine, Business License suspension or revocation, Other

(e.g., seizure of the product, publication of the violation/violator)

Analysis

Violations of the minimum retail package size are punishable by a fine of 10 times the total amount including price, tax, and other fees of the product used to commit the offense. For a second offense, violators are subject to a fine of 5,000 Rufiyaa in addition to the initial fine. For a third offense, violators are subject to a fine of 10,000 Rufiyaa in addition to the initial fine. For a fourth offense, violators are subject to a fine of 20,000 Rufiyaa in addition to the initial fine. The highest amount of fine prescribed under the Act will be levied on the fifth time. In all instances, the minimum fine is 500 Rufiyaa and the maximum fine is 100,000 Rufiyaa. In addition, violators may have their tobacco license suspended or revoked, and items used in the violation may be seized and destroyed.

The enforcement agency is the Ministry of Health or other concerned authorities of the state, under an arrangement made between the Health Protection Agency responsible for enforcing this Regulation and other potential enforcement authorities of the state.

Minimum Legal Sales Age

Fine, Business License suspension or revocation, Other

(e.g., seizure of the product, publication of the violation/violator)

Analysis

Violations of the ban on sales to persons below the age of 18 are punishable by any of the following: a) cancellation or suspension of a license to sell tobacco; b) a fine between 500-100,000 Rufiyaa; and/or c) seizure or forfeiture of goods or things used in the perpetration of an offense. The penalty prescribed for the offense shall be imposed separately for each offense committed. The penalty imposed for violations can be increased for every repeat offense. The enforcement agency is the Ministry of Health.