A new rule has been created to enforce penalties of up to MVR 100,000 on food inspectors who breach ethical and professional standards.

The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has established a regulation specifying the duties, behavioral standards, and enforcement authority of food inspectors.

Inspectors are tasked with making certain that food imports, exports, and all businesses engaged in food production or sales in the Maldives adhere to the standards established by the Food Safety Act according to the regulation. Inspectors are required to look into public complaints concerning food safety and respond to offenders.

The regulation empowers inspectors to hold, eliminate, or send back imported food if the MFDA considers it banned or necessitating examination. Inspectors designated under the regulation will receive an official pass or identification card.

Inspectors must have at least GCE A/L, Basic Food Safety Training or a higher qualification, and be fluent in both Dhivehi and English. Nonetheless, inspectors with a minimum of 10 years of service at MFDA will be free from these obligations.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf cafe located in the "Kaze" area of the Aeon LakeTown shopping center in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. (Image/Tripadvisor)

Inspectors must refrain from inspecting any food establishment where they have a conflict of interest, such as employment, ownership, shareholding, or close family connections, and must provide written notice to MFDA.

Inspectors are forbidden from offering false information to MFDA, pursuing financial benefits, granting licenses to non-compliant entities without inspections, or altering evidence gathered during inspections.

MFDA will be empowered to levy fines between MVR 5,000 and MVR 100,000 based on the seriousness of the violation.

The President has earlier indicated that the administration is striving to enhance food safety regulations and boost technical capabilities for monitoring and testing food safety across the country.