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The Defence Ministry has extended the deadline for businesses handling hazardous chemicals to register their storage facilities and obtain the required permits.
Mariyam Adheela
Authorities inspect chemical storage and business premises under Operation Hiraas Faas to ensure compliance with hazardous chemical safety regulations. Photo: Government
Male’: Businesses selling hazardous chemicals have been given an additional month to register their operations and obtain permits under regulations introduced to strengthen chemical safety.
The Defence Ministry said the deadline has been extended until October 27, citing a low number of applications from businesses required to comply with the regulations.
Businesses storing hazardous chemicals for sale must register their facilities through the ministry’s Makudi portal and obtain a chemical sales permit.
The ministry warned that businesses failing to register by the new deadline could face enforcement action and may not receive further permits to import hazardous chemicals.
The move follows previous incidents involving unsafe chemical storage in populated areas. A major warehouse fire on Henveiru Abadhahfehi Magu in September 2019 killed one person, damaged six homes and four warehouses, and injured several people.
Following the incident, the government relocated 41 chemical warehouses in Male’ to Thilafushi. However, authorities later discovered another unauthorised chemical storage facility on Lily Magu in 2023, which was closed by police and the MNDF.
A chemical fire at a storage facility in Maafannu this year has also highlighted continuing safety concerns over storing chemicals in residential areas.
