President ratifies bill on Protection of the Ozone Layer

President Abdulla Yamin Abdul Gayoom has ratified the bill on Protection of the Ozone Layer that was passed by the Parliament to stop the import of Ozone depleting substances.

The ratification of the bill bans the import of 25 chemicals that are harmful for the Ozone Layer to the Maldives.

The law also lists chemicals that would go under an import ban starting from 31 May 2016 with a detail table of the chemicals.

The Law of Protecting the Ozone Layer says that controlled chemicals can be imported into the Maldives with permits from the Environment Ministry. And the law says that the Ministry would be deciding the amount that is allowed to be important and those who are permitted to do so.

A fine of MVR 1000 - 8000 would be imposed per kilogram for illegal import of the controlled substances along with an import fine of MVR 10,000 - 100,000.