Maldives exempts cling film and food wrap from duty
The Economic Development and Trade Ministry has amended the import rules so cling film and food-wrapping materials fall under the duty exemption for food packaging. The change took effect on 9 November 2026.
The Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade has amended the Maldives' import-export regulation so that cling film and food-wrapping materials are no longer excluded from the food-packaging goods on which duty is not charged. The amendment, Regulation 2026/R-93, was published in the Government Gazette on 9 November 2026.
What changed
Regulation 2026/R-93 is the fifth amendment to the Regulation on Exporting, Importing and Re-exporting Goods (2012/R-34). It replaces item 2 of Article 30(l), which lists food-packaging goods on which duty is not charged. The new item reads “single-use or disposable film, sheets and tube rolls used for packaging food”, with no exclusion attached (see the gazette PDF).
Since the 2021 amendment (2021/R-32), the same item had stated that cling film and food wrapping used to package items temporarily were not included (see the 2021 amendment). That exclusion is gone.
When it takes effect
The regulation says it applies from the date it is published in the Government Gazette. The notice is dated 9 November 2026.
What the notice does not say
The gazette notice is a short amending text. It does not give:
- the rate of duty that applied until now
- tariff codes for the goods
- a reason for the change
