President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that amending the Maldives Export-Import Act to reduce the import duty on cigarettes is not a step backward.

A bill to lower the specific duty on cigarettes to four MVR has already been submitted to the People's Majlis, where the Committee of the Whole House has passed the amendment without any changes, exactly as proposed by the government.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office today, President Muizzu explained that the decision to lower the duty was finalized following extensive discussions within the cabinet. He noted that the government brought this change to prevent an extraordinary spike in the consumption of alternative tobacco products. He emphasized that implementing this adjustment is not a regression in the government's stance.

The President further highlighted that the administration's tobacco control measures are being executed in carefully managed phases. He stated that these steps are part of a holistic public health policy aimed at transforming the community into a healthier society.

Additionally, President Muizzu revealed that reducing the cigarette duty became necessary because the previous steep price hike had driven the market toward alternative products. He noted that authorities had observed an influx of other tobacco varieties becoming common, some of which pose even greater health risks than traditional cigarettes.