In 2006 the National Biosafety Framework of Maldives was formulated. At that time a draft regulation on National Biosafety was prepared. This regulation has not come to force due to the technological constraints regarding the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in Maldives. However, there are legal instruments in place that indirectly apply to biosafety. These include the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Fisheries Law, Maldives Customs Law, Regulations for Import and Sale of Drugs in Maldives, Consumer Protection Act, Law on Protection of Plants, Import and Export Law. In addition to this a draft food act, draft food import regulation, and a draft food safety policy has been formulated which will address LMOs to some extent.  Maldives is developing a Good Agriclutural Practices Certification Scheme expected to start certicication next year. Also, a National Standard for Labelling Packaged Foods exists in Maldives which currently does not include labelling for GM foods. Maldives has plans to change the draft biosafety regulation to a biosafety law, to pave way for effective implementation of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.  The implementation of the biosafety framework and the enforcement of the biosafety regulation would require certain scientific and technical capacity which is not present. Therefore, strong technological foundation with supporting institutional capacity, along with the required procedures in place are needed for the effective implementation of the protocol.

Maldives depends on foreign manufacturers for pharmaceuticals and benefits from the advances of modern biotechnology on pharmaceutical products. Facing technological shortcomings, Maldives does not have the capacity to do risk assessments prior to import of pharmaceuticals. Some of the living modified organisms (LMOs) used as pharamaceuticals include human insulin, hepatitis B, etc. Maldives Food and Drug Authority has developed an authorized drug list which is updated frequently.

Maldives doe not have any set standards for transit and contained use of LMOs. According to Maldives Customs Service there has been no report of transit and contained use of LMOs in the reporting period.

Maldives is highly dependent on imported foods, as the limited land availability and soil condition does not permit for extensive agricultural practices. Taking into account the fact that biotechnology research or any other kind of research associated with gene modification is not carried out in Maldives, there has been no report on use of LMOs in the agricultural sector. As the draft regulation on biosafety has not come into force, there is no legal mechansim in place for the procedures involved in the notifications, and decision making in intentional transboundary movement of LMOs for intentional introduction to the environment.  According to Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), Maldives has the potential to monitor and identify LMOs, if the required technologies are available. MFDA has microbiologists, chemists, and biotechnologists, who have the knowledge to do research if the necessary equipment is made available.

There is no report of use of LMOs in direct use for food, feed or processing. Given that there is no legal requirement in place for the procedures for LMOs intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing, there is the posibility that LMOs-FFP are used in Maldives.

Maldives has not taken a decision regarding import of LMOs-FFP or LMOs as intentional tranboundary movement for intentional introduction to the environemnt, and has never done a risk assessment, in turn not needing the reviwing of a decision.

Maldives has plans to become a party to Nagoya-Kuala Lampur Supplimentary Protocol on Liability and Reddress. 

As Maldives does not regulate and monitor use, handling, and tranboundary movement of LMOs, risk assessment and risk management is not carried out. Specifically, it is important to note that Maldives does not have enough scientific and technological capacity in regards to identification of LMOs and risk assessment for its adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and risks to human health.

Handling, transport, and use of LMOs, require sound scientific principle which Maldives lacks.

Ministry of Environment and Energy is the designated Competent National Authority of the Cratagena Protocol on Biosafety. There are focal points established in related line ministries with reagrd to CPB. There is no institutional capacity present for the competent national authority to perform its function and the functions are not defined.

Maldives has submitted first and second national biosafety reports to the BCH as well as the National Biosafety Framework.

Maldives have not received request of confidentiality/import of LMOs during the reporting period.

A national training workshop on Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was held on 18 December 2012.

Maldives does not have measures, aimed at prevention and penalizing of illegal transboundary movement of LMOs. Also there are no procedures in place for disposal of such LMOs. However a Plant & Animal Health Law exists, where a Plant and Animal Quarantine facility has been established, managed by Ministry of Fisheries & Agriculture. A guideline for quarantine and detained items exist, where illegal items and items without proper documentation is disposed off after 3 days, by which if the owner has not provided the necessary documents or not arranged for re-export.  Import permits for plants/ plant parts are issued in reference to the CITES lists. Maldives is a party to international plant protection convention under FAO and the plant protection law reflects the necessary obligations under the convention. However due to poor technical capacity and infrastructure the law is not adequately enforced.

The challenges and constraints faced by the small island dveloping state of Maldives, in terms of implementation Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety include, but is not limited to inadequate and restricted scientific, technical, technological, financial, institutional, and human capacity. There are no safety guidelines in place for the use and release of LMOs, with no capacity for undertaking risk assessemnt and risk management. For the effective implementation of the protocol, trainings are needed, along with capacity building, and strengthening of institutional structure.