MFDA bans sale of medicines in regular shops without approval

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

It is common for some types of medicines to be sold in public shops, including remedies for viral illnesses and colds. MFDA says this practice will now be prohibited under the new Drug Regulation.

The regulation, issued on Saturday, states that medicines and products containing medicinal ingredients cannot be sold in public business outlets or in any place not authorised for drug sales without MFDA permission. The regulation will come into force on October 22 this year.

Similarly, general traders will not be allowed to import medicines or medicine containing products without MFDA approval.

According to the regulation, retail pharmacies will be prohibited from selling medicines wholesale or providing transportation services.

The regulation bans the import, export, advertising and sale of drugs that are unfit for human consumption, adulterated or contaminated, manufactured in unhygienic premises, counterfeit, or banned by the World Health Organization or other competent authorities.

Penalties under the regulation include advisories, time given to rectify violations, fines ranging from MVR 10,000 to MVR 100,000, temporary suspension of permits for periods between two weeks and one year, and revocation of permits.

The regulation also grants MFDA the authority to blacklist drug importers who provide invalid or false information during the registration process.