Hazardous Chemical Permit Deadline Extended by One Month

The Ministry of Defence has extended by one month the deadline for businesses and other parties involved in the sale of hazardous chemicals in the Maldives to obtain the required permits and register their chemical storage facilities.

The extension was announced after the initial deadline set under the Hazardous Chemicals Regulation expired, with the ministry citing a lower-than-expected number of applications during the original registration period.

Under the requirements, sellers of hazardous chemicals must obtain a Permit to Sell Chemicals and register the premises where such chemicals are stored through the designated Makudi portal.

The ministry said the extended deadline will run for one month from September 28, giving businesses additional time to complete the registration and permitting process.

However, the ministry warned that enforcement action will be taken against sellers who continue operating without the required registration after the extended deadline.

Businesses found to be selling hazardous chemicals without complying with the regulation could face fines ranging from MVR 50,000 to MVR 1 million, confiscation of chemical products, revocation of business licences and possible criminal prosecution.

The ministry also warned that parties found continuing to sell hazardous chemicals without the required registration will be barred from obtaining future permits to import hazardous chemicals into the Maldives.

The regulatory requirements are aimed at strengthening oversight of hazardous chemicals, including how they are sold, stored and handled, and ensuring that storage facilities comply with established safety requirements.

The government has increased scrutiny of hazardous chemical storage following previous incidents in Malé involving the clandestine and unsafe storage of chemical substances. Such incidents have highlighted the risks posed by storing hazardous materials in premises that do not meet safety standards.

The ministry is therefore urging all parties engaged in the sale and storage of hazardous chemicals to use the additional one-month period to complete the required applications and registrations before enforcement measures begin.