A government-funded health agency in the Maldives has proposed hiking the tax on vapes.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says additional taxes imposed on all “tobacco products” (in which it includes vapes) will help to deter young people from using them.
In an article titled “Let’s Save Children and Youth from Tobacco,” published on the Ministry of Health website, the HPA expresses concern over the increasing use of vapes and nicotine pouches among teenagers and youth in the Maldives.
No distinction between vapes and cigarettes
The agency advocates for regulations to increase taxes on vapes alongside traditional tobacco-based products like cigarettes. Vapes are included in the Maldives’ regulations on tobacco products despite them not containing tobacco or causing any tobacco-related disease.
The FDA says it plans to allocate some of the revenue from the higher taxes to “tobacco control and health promotion efforts”.
According to the 2021-2022 Step Survey, which identifies risks related to non-communicable diseases, children in the Maldives begin using tobacco as early as eight years old.
The Global School Health Survey, which focuses on students aged 13 to 17, indicates that some children start smoking before the age of seven.
However, there is no similar data available for vaping.
“Significant” cost of tobacco-related disease
HPA highlights that the Maldives spends MVR 1.8 billion (€107 million) annually to import 400 million cigarettes. It says significant amounts are also spent on importing vapes and tobacco used in hookahs. It adds that Aasandha, the universal health insurance scheme, incurs substantial costs treating diseases caused by tobacco use.
Vapes are included in the Maldives’ regulations on tobacco products despite them not containing tobacco or causing any tobacco-related disease.
The agency has also called for measures to halt the advertisement and marketing of tobacco products, prevent new exposures, and monitor the tobacco trade. It also advocated for strengthened regulations banning smoking in public places to reduce exposure to tobacco and protect the rights of non-smokers.
The Maldives currently imposes higher import duties on tobacco products compared to other goods.
Currently it is legal to vape in the Maldives, although vaping is typically only accepted in places where smoking is allowed.
