Smoking-permitted caf

Ministry of Health has notified cafés and restaurants to apply for permits to designate certain areas for smoking, as required by the Ministry from next year onwards.

Health Ministry said that the regulation on designating places prohibited for smoking, states that it is mandatory for food-serving establishments, which meet certain requirements, to have designated smoking areas. They also said that special licenses have to obtained prior to the defining such areas.The ministry said that submission of requests for licenses is now open.

The Ministry also said that action will be taken against any establishment that does not obtain a license and allow people to smoke within their premises.

The regulation prohibits smoking in air-conditioned rooms that serve food. It also prohibits smoking in places other than the areas designated in cafés, restaurants and other establishments.

The regulation, which will come into effect in January, also prohibits smoking in front of street entrances. Government offices, retirement homes, opens spaces of retirement homes and rehabilitation centres are also stipulated as no smoking areas. Children’s parks,areas specified for children’s entertainment, ferries and ferry terminals are also specified as no smoking areas.

The regulation states that an establishment can be fined for the first offence a sum of MVR500 if the no-smoking sign is not properly displayed. Repeating the offence carries a fine of MVR5000. The owner of an establishment may also be fined a sum of MVR1000 if a person smokes in a no-smoking area within his establishment.