International Standards

The global economy today centers round technology, standardization, transnational production systems and international competitiveness. The traditional natural boundaries and trade barriers are diminishing with a far reaching technological and industrial developments taking place affecting global economy.

In this regard, the interdependence of nations has increased. This has led to a demand for a common denominator for evaluating and judging quality needs in the world market. The Standardization plays a major role in assimilation of technology, effecting economy in production and stimulating competitiveness.

The trade standardization in the Maldives encapsulates technological results and becomes instrument for an organized development of industries to meet international challenges for quality.

The country’s non-tariff barriers to international trade have been a subject of intense focus. Standards and conformity assessment systems are the main instruments used by the government of the country to create barriers for free flow of goods and services. To mitigate obstacles to international trade, the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) has been brought out for facilitating international trade.

Standardization, regulation and conformity assessment systems form core of this agreement as it is widely recognized to support economic development, facilitating trade and improving the quality of life through encapsulating new technologies in usable tools for industry. These benefits have been further reinforced by reference to standards in contracts, legislation, public purchasing and by using them as a basis for certification.

The Maldivian Ministry of Economic Development established a Standards and Metrology Unit within its structures in 2007, and has ever since, been continuously working on awareness, facilitation of quality assurance and metrology services to businesses in the different industries, close collaboration with relevant stakeholders in adopting technical regulations with relations to technical standards and conformity assessment.

Additionally, the Ministry is currently working on the relevant legislations related to standards, namely the Standards Law.

Labelling and Marking Requirements 

Manufacturers are advised to take note that all labels require metric units although dual labeling is also acceptable.  The use of language on labels has to be the English one, including the detailed information about the product.

The labels on the imported product has to contain the following information: 

1. All the information about the product has to be printed on a label securely affixed to the package or printed on the package itself;

2. All lables on the package have to be printed only in the English language;

3. All the products with only one standard label are not allowed to be placed on the market;

4. All products with false, misleading or deceprive representation are not allowed to be placed on the market;

5. The content on the label has to be clear, prominent, indelible, and readily legible by the consumer.

Country of origin labeling applies to unpacked fresh and processed fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices, herbs, legumes, seeds, fish (including shellfish) and meat (pork, beef, sheep and chicken).

For example, the following unpacked foods are required to have country of origin labeling:

1. fresh and sun-dried tomatoes

2. processed ham and bacon

3. fresh and smoked fish fillets, and crumbed fish fillets

4. fresh apples and dried apples

5. chicken, pork, beef and lamb.

Food Packaging

Before exporting or importing any type of product, the person has to take into account a number of important international regulations. The package has to contain the following information:

1. Name of food;

2. List of ingredients;

3. Name and complete address of manufacturer;

4. Date of manufacture;

5. Best before date or use by date or date of expiry;

6. Name and address of importer.

The package should not influence badly the country's environment and does not contain any chemical elements, forbiden for peoples' health.

Packaged food must carry a statement identifying either:

1. the country where the food was made, produced or grown; 

2. the country where the food was manufactured or packaged and that the food is a mix of ingredients imported into that country or a mix of local and imported ingredients.