Health Protection Agency HPA says it has begun an inspection in the Greater Male' Area to check whether establishments in the area are following the Tobacco Control Act.
HPA said that the inspection that began today targets shops and cafes operating in Male', Hulhumale' and Villimale.
The Agency said that other relevant authorities would be joining in on the inspection.
HPA said that it aims to find out how such establishments are disobeying the Tobacco Control Act and inform them of their mistakes as well as make them aware of the mandates within the law.
The Tobacco Control Act prohibits growing tobacco and advertising tobacco products, regulates import and export, sale by wholesale and retail, and packaging and labeling of tobacco products.
It also set up a regulatory framework for the taxation of tobacco products, protection of non-tobacco users from environmental tobacco smoke, provision of requisite information and training to remain free of the hazards of tobacco, and the treatment of persons addicted to tobacco use, for the control of smoking in the Maldives.
