Food Establishment Registration

This service allows food businesses to register their food establishments in compliance with the Food Safety Act (Law Number: 6/2024) at the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA). Once registered, the certification remains valid for a period of one year.

Responsible Entity: Maldives Food And Drug Authority

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Eligibility

  • The applicant should be a registered business entity as per Business Registration Act (18/2014). 

  • All outstanding fines and dues (if any) related to the food establishment should be settled.

How to apply

  • You can apply using an Efaas account.

  • Logging into your own account will direct you to the oneGov homepage.

Service Categories

  • Local tea shops “Sai Hotaa”

  • Cafe

  • Restaurant

  • Canteen

  • Coffee shop

  • Catering services

  • Pastry shop or takeaway (with kitchen)

  • Bakery

  • Kitchen 

  • Short eats takeaway

  • Pastry shop or takeaway (without kitchen)

  • Juice shops (takeaway drinks, coffee, tea, juice, etc)

  • Food packaging service (small businesses)

  • Food packaging service (middle sized businesses)

  • Street food vendors and carts

  • Temporary food establishments (Canteens at fairs or carnivals)

  • Butchers

  • Day care centres and food catering volunteers

Documents required

  • Clearly labelled floor plan or layout (should include measurements of food preparation area and kitchen)

  • Building land use permit issued by the Local Council

  • Document issued by MWSC stating the installation of an oil trap in the establishment (only for food preparation area)

After you apply

  • After successful submission, a notification will be sent to your email and phone. 

  • You can check the status of the request from the “My Applications” tab.

  • Inspection will commence in three working days. You will be informed of the requirements (if any) and they should be resolved within 1 (one) month of the application date.

  • Applications are valid within the stipulated time and will be cancelled if you do not respond to the Authority’s requests. If the application is cancelled, a new application should be submitted.

  • The application will be approved if there are no problems found during the inspection. Once the application is processed, the Food Establishment Registration License bearing a unique registration number will be issued.

Service fee

  • Initial Registration Fee: MVR 500

  • Annual Fee for: 

    • Local tea shops “Sai Hotaa” / Cafe / Restaurant / Canteen / Coffee shop: MVR 2000

    • Kitchen with delivery service: MVR 2000

    • Commercial kitchen / Takeaway with kitchen / Drinks only serving outlets: MVR 2000 

    • Catering services / Bakery / Pastry shop: MVR 1000

    • Street food vendors and carts: MVR 500

Payment notification

  • Once your application has been approved, you will receive a notification via email and phone to make the payment for the service.

  • You can see the payment prompt under “My Applications”. Clicking this will redirect you to the BandeyriPay portal where you will be able to make the payment.

Estimated time frame

  • All duly completed applications will be processed within 7 business days.

FAQs

In the event that the conditions are not met on the day of the inspection, how many chances are given to rectify the problem?

Issues found during inspections will be provided up to three chances to be resolved (within one month of application submission). If the issues persist after that, the food establishment will be requested to cease its operations.

In which situations will the establishment be asked to shut down?

The establishment will be asked to shut down if the licence has already expired by the inspection day, or if the establishment is inactive after a month of licence expiration. Additionally, if there is no renewal request within a month of expiration date, the establishment will be asked to shut down.

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