The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been officially renamed the Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA), as proclaimed by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday. The name alteration seeks to more accurately convey the agency's primary goal — environmental regulation — while enhancing and simplifying its operations.

The ERA will now function directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, concluding the earlier setup where the agency operated under a governing board's guidance. Today, Hassan was designated as the Chief Executive of the Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA), a political role tasked with supervising the agency's activities.

In the course of the restructuring, the agency's leadership model has been updated. The President's Office has announced a new civil service role called Chief Administrator, who will lead the agency. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is now accepting applications for this role, providing a base monthly salary of MVR 20,500 along with a living allowance of MVR 15,000, bringing the total to MVR 35,500 monthly. The deadline for applications is August 26 at 2:00 PM.

Regardless of this new framework, Hassaan was designated today as the Chief Executive of the ERA — a governmental role. Although the Chief Administrator will officially head the agency, the Chief Executive is anticipated to have an important role in managing its operations.

Earlier, the top official in the EPA was the Director General, a position last occupied by Ibrahim Naeem. The establishment of the Chief Administrator position indicates a change in administrative authority, highlighting the government's aim to improve the ERA's efficiency and regulatory supervision in environmental issues throughout the Maldives.