Biosecurity for Import and Export of Plant Products into the Maldives - Workshop

The Workshop on Biosecurity for Import and Export of Plant Products into the Maldives commenced today at Meerumaa Hotel. The five day workshop is scheduled to take place from 25 to 29 January 2026.

The workshop is being conducted under the Maldives Transforming Fisheries Sector Management in the Southwest Indian Ocean Region and Maldives (TRANSFORM) project, a collaborative initiative between the Ministry and the World Bank. The sessions focus on strengthening coordination between agencies and ministries and enhancing border biosecurity practices related to the import and export of plants and plant products.

The primary objectives of the workshop include strengthening the capacity of relevant agencies and ministries enhancing coordination between border control agencies and regulatory authorities, and improving control mechanisms for the cross-border movement of goods and passengers. The sessions also aim to enhance oversight of transboundary movements and improve risk-mitigation measures in line with regional and international best practices.

The programme has been organised into two phases. The first day focuses on a multi-stakeholder workshop on biosecurity, targeting all relevant ministries and agencies. From the second to the fifth day, the workshop will focus on biosecurity for the import and export of plants and plant products, providing in-depth technical training on pest risk assessment, disease surveillance, and health certification systems for the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare.

The workshop is attended by senior officials working in the fields of biosecurity regulation, border control, surveillance, and Public Health Sectors. Participants include technical experts from the Ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Maldives Customs Service, Ministry of Tourism, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), and the Health Protection Agency (HPA).