The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has announced that it has taken over the responsibility of issuing live fish export permits and International Veterinary Health Certificates for live fish shipments, functions previously handled by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA).
Following the transfer of these regulatory functions from the MFDA to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, all procedures related to the export of live fish from the Maldives, including the issuance of health certifications, are now managed by the Ministry.
According to the Ministry, applications for export permits can be submitted through their online portal at aos.egov.mv.
Key requirements and guidelines for applicants are as follows: New companies must link their corporate profile with the applicant’s eFaas account. To facilitate this, companies are required to email a copy of their registration certificate and the applicant’s National ID card to the Ministry; As the processing time for export permits is 2 to 3 working days, applicants are advised to submit their requests well in advance; Applications must include detailed information regarding the species and the estimated quantity intended for export.
The Ministry has stated that International Veterinary Health Certificates will be issued only after an official veterinarian from the Ministry conducts a physical inspection of the shipment at the airport. Accordingly, the Ministry must be notified at least six hours prior to the preparation of the shipment. Additionally, the estimated time of arrival for the shipment at Velana International Airport should be communicated via email.
The Ministry strongly urges exporters to obtain export permits and submit shipment notifications in advance. Please be informed that shipments without prior permits or notifications will encounter difficulties in the issuance of the International Veterinary Health Certificate. Furthermore, the Ministry will not be held responsible for any losses or damages to shipments resulting from inspection delays in such circumstances.