President says government is formulating new regulations and boosting technical capacity for food safety

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday said the government is working to develop regulations to ensure food safety and to strengthen the technical capacity required to monitor and test food quality in the Maldives.

In his message on the occasion of World Food Safety Day, marked annually on June 7, the President highlighted the critical role of safe food in public health, sustainable development, and overall human well‑being.

Noting that food‑borne diseases affect millions of people worldwide, he described them as a major burden on health systems, livelihoods, and national economies. Many such diseases, he said, can be prevented through evidence‑based measures, stronger systems, and collective action.

He said the government places high importance on ensuring that all food items consumed in the Maldives meet reliable safety standards.

The President noted that work is underway to formulate regulations under the Food Safety Act and to strengthen food‑control measures at the borders. He added that efforts are ongoing to increase the technical capacity required for food‑safety monitoring and testing.

President calls for collective action on food safety and humanitarian responsibility https://t.co/6k6nXYtIJR pic.twitter.com/G3kSh3Tsga

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) June 7, 2026

He urged food traders to maintain the highest standards of hygiene and safety, and to strengthen disease‑detection and response systems.

He also encouraged consumers to seek information about the safety of food items and to adopt safe food‑handling practices at home.

In addition, the President expressed the Maldives’ steadfast solidarity with people living in disaster‑affected and humanitarian crisis zones, including Gaza, where human suffering is being worsened by unsafe food and contaminated water.

As Food Safety Day is observed, practices that undermine public confidence in food safety surface in Maldives still. There have been instances of food being prepared and sold in unhygienic environments, and inappropriate use of pesticides and fertilizers by our farmers on locally grown produce.