The Maldives Food and Drug Administration (MFDA) has prohibited the sale of medicines in grocery stores and other general retail outlets without prior approval from the agency.

While some medicines, such as remedies for viral illnesses and colds, are currently sold in public shops, the MFDA states that this practice will now be banned under the new Drug Regulation.

The regulation, issued on Saturday, specifies that medicines and products containing medicinal ingredients cannot be sold in public business outlets or any location not authorized for drug sales without permission from the MFDA. This regulation will take effect on October 22 of this year.

Additionally, general traders will no longer be permitted to import medicines or medicinal products without MFDA approval. Retail pharmacies will also be restricted from selling medicines wholesale or offering transportation services related to drugs.

The regulation forbids the import, export, advertising, and sale of drugs that are unsafe for human use, adulterated, contaminated, produced in unhygienic conditions, counterfeit, or banned by the World Health Organization or other relevant authorities.

Penalties for violations include advisories, periods to correct infractions, fines ranging from MVR 10,000 to MVR 100,000, temporary permit suspensions lasting from two weeks to one year, and revocation of licenses.

Furthermore, the MFDA has the authority to blacklisted drug importers who provide false or invalid information during the registration process.