MVR 30,000 fine for unpermitted import endangered species

Regulations have been amended to impose an MVR 30,000 fine for unpermitted import, export and re-export, including via sea, of endangered species.

The first amendment to Control of International Trade in Endangered Species and Registration of Traders and Goods was publicized on the government gazette on Thursday.

As per the amendment, the importation of endangered species without a permit is strictly prohibited. An MVR 30,000 fine will be imposed for every single endangered species imported without a permit.

Similarly, the importation of products made from using endangered species or parts of endangered species is also strictly prohibited under the amendment. Any such import of a product will see a fine of MVR 10,000.

An MVR 150 fee needs to be settled to acquire the permit under this regulation which also stipulates fines for violations of the permit. In this regard:

• First violation: MVR 5,000 fine
• Second violation: MVR 10,000 fine
• Third violation: MVR 20,000 fine
• More than three violations: A fine that is not greater than MVR 50,000

Prior to this, the regulation imposed an MVR 10,000 fine for the first violation, an MVR 20,000 fine for the second violation, an MVR 40,000 fine for the third violation and a fine that is not greater than MVR 1 million for violations exceeding three.

Notably, the regulation also empowers the Environment Ministry to seize any animals imported in violation of the regulation.