The Health Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, has announced plans to establish a cutting-edge health laboratory within this term. The necessary land for the project has already been secured and handed over to the ministry for the development of this critical infrastructure.
Historically, food safety has not been a major focus in the Maldives, primarily due to the lack of an appropriate laboratory facility. However, with the recent enactment of the Food Safety Act, the ministry is now required to create a laboratory that can conduct comprehensive food testing and analysis.
Minister Khaleel emphasized that the upcoming lab will be equipped to carry out a wide range of tests, including those related to food, medicines, and other public health concerns. The project is currently in its first phase, with the design process nearing completion. The lab is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring high standards of food safety, as well as the testing of pharmaceuticals and addressing broader public health issues.
According to the Food Safety Act, the new laboratory will be responsible for testing food products imported to or exported from the Maldives, as well as those produced locally. Additionally, the lab will be tasked with assessing the health and safety standards of food manufacturing and packaging facilities, storage areas, and food vendors.
The legislation requires that the laboratory, which will function under the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), adhere to specific testing standards and guidelines. Furthermore, the Act authorizes the MFDA to arrange for tests that cannot be conducted domestically to be carried out in other local labs or sent to specialized facilities abroad.
Currently, food imports arriving by sea are inspected at the MPL harbor, while airfreight food undergoes testing at Velana International Airport (VIA). Some scientific analyses are performed at the MFDA laboratory, with additional tests outsourced to international laboratories.
