The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has announced a 50 percent reduction in fees charged to food service establishments, easing regulatory costs for businesses in the sector.

In a statement, the MFDA said the decision was taken under the current regulations governing the licensing of food service providers.

The reduction applies to both registration fees and category-based licensing fees required to operate food service establishments.

The revised fee structure will remain in effect for a period of two years.

Previously, food service establishments operating on a commercial basis were required to pay an annual registration fee of MVR 500.

In addition, establishments with both kitchen and serving areas were charged an annual licensing fee of MVR 2,000.

Where seating capacity exceeded 50, an additional fee of MVR 100 was levied for every additional 50 seats.

Under the existing framework, several categories of food service providers are also subject to annual licensing fees.

These include establishments offering packed meals or takeaway services, commercial kitchens producing food items, outlets preparing local short eats (hedhikaa), and juice bars and beverage outlets, each previously charged MVR 2,000 annually.

Street food stalls and carts, known locally as gaadiyaa, were charged MVR 500 per year.

With the new decision, all these registration and category fees have been reduced by half for the duration of the two-year period.

The MFDA also noted that, in line with existing regulations, a fee equivalent to 50 percent of the original licence fee will continue to be charged for the issuance of a replacement licence in cases where the original is lost or damaged.