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President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified an amendment to the Waste Management Act, removing the MVR 2 plastic bag fee on wholesale bundles containing more than 50 bags and imposing a complete ban on importing waste into the Maldives.
News Desk
President Muizzu ratifying a bill - Photo: President Office
MALÉ: President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified key amendments to the Waste Management Act passed by the People’s Majlis, eliminating the MVR 2 plastic bag fee on bulk wholesale purchases.
The previous law required retailers to charge MVR 2 for every individual plastic bag, causing wholesale bundle prices to surge significantly for local businesses and consumers.
Under the new legislation, plastic bag packs containing more than 50 bags are officially exempt from the MVR 2 levy.
The law previously exempted duty-free shop bags, bags used for uncompressed fresh fish, and dedicated bin liners issued by waste management authorities.
The newly ratified amendment also expands plastic bag fee collection to non-GST registered businesses, mandating the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy to monitor compliance and establish utilization guidelines for collected funds within one year.
Additionally, the revised law explicitly bans the import of any waste material into the Maldives, removing previous provisions that permitted waste imports under special regulatory permits.
The legislation also establishes that hazardous waste may only be handled, used, or sold in the Maldives under specific permits issued by the Environment Regulatory Authority in accordance with newly established ministerial regulations.
