The Ministry of Health has announced that the importation of equipment used for rolling tobacco, such as papers and rizla, is also prohibited.

In a letter addressed to the Commissioner General of Customs, Fathimath Dhiyana, the Ministry of Health stated that since the production of any tobacco product is prohibited, if any individual imports any item or equipment used to produce any type of tobacco product, those items should be seized and destroyed.

The ministry's letter mentioned that the Tobacco Control Act defines tobacco, tobacco dust, nicotine, and products prepared with tobacco and tobacco dust containing nicotine as tobacco products.

The ministry stated that any product prepared in a way that allows substances or components to enter the body through holding, drinking, inhaling, applying to a body part, pressing, or rubbing, containing any amount of these types, is considered a tobacco product.

With the recent amendment to the tobacco law and the increase in cigarette prices, the demand has been highest for tobacco rolling equipment. This is because it is significantly cheaper to prepare them oneself compared to buying cigarettes.

An official from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) told "One" tonight that the ministry instructed Customs in this manner because the production of tobacco products in the Maldives is prohibited by law, and commonly used items.