Can I sell eggs from my backyard chickens in the Maldives, and do I need a licence?

In the Maldives, any food service needs a licence, and food service premises must register, except homes and temporary markets, vehicles and stands. Whether selling your own eggs is a food service is not established. Small-flock line: licence and registration for food service premises; homes and temporary markets, vehicles and stands need no registration, but whether they need the licence was not established. The conditions, and the law they come from, are on this page.

What has to be on the carton label in the Maldives?

The sources we read do not list label items for small producers.

National rules

Can you sell backyard eggs in the Maldives?

In the Maldives, any food service needs a licence, and food service premises must register, except homes and temporary markets, vehicles and stands. Whether selling your own eggs is a food service is not established.

Read from 2 official sources29 passages quotedChecked October 30, 2026

Licence

Not stated

Small-flock line

Licence and registration for food service premises; homes and temporary markets, vehicles and stands need no registration, but whether they need the licence was not established

Farmers markets

Not stated

Cartons

Not stated

In plain English

No egg-specific or small-seller provision was found in the Food Safety Act read on 2026-10-30; the Act came into force three months after its publication in the Government Gazette of 23 May 2024. Food service premises must obtain a licence and register with the Maldives Food and Drug Authority before they start (art. 44(a)), and all food service providers must register (art. 46(a)). Registration is not required for residences or for markets, vehicles and stands set up temporarily to provide food (art. 44(b)), and people working at those places are not food service providers for article 46 (art. 46(b)); these exemptions cover registration only, and article 53(a) prohibits providing any kind of food service in the Maldives without a food service licence; whether a household selling its own eggs is providing a food service was not established. Producing and selling food at your own home for your own livelihood must follow a standard set by the Authority (art. 41).

A sourced reading of the rules in the Maldives, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with Maldives Food and Drug Authority (Food Safety Act); the ministry responsible for animal health (law on keeping animals and animal welfare) before you sell.

Do you need a licence?

Not stated in the sources we readLicence and registration for food service premises; homes and temporary markets, vehicles and stands need no registration, but whether they need the licence was not established

Food service premises must obtain a licence and register with the Authority before they start providing services.art. 44(a)
All food service providers must register with the Authority (art. 46(a)); people working at residences, or at markets, vehicles and stands set up temporarily to provide food, are not counted as food service providers for that article.art. 46(b)
Producing and selling food at your own home for your own livelihood, with no benefit to another party, must follow the standard the Authority sets for that food.art. 41
Food sold in markets must meet the general conditions in chapter three of the Act.art. 38(b)
Packaged food may be sold only after it has been packaged and labelled to the standards in the Act and its regulations (art. 26(d)); the label particulars are left to regulations, which were not read.
Providing any kind of food service in the Maldives without a food service licence is prohibited (art. 53(a)); whether a household selling its own eggs is providing a food service was not established.

The exact wording

“މި މާއްދާގެ (ހ) އެހެން އޮތްނަމަވެސް، މީހުން ދިރިއުޅޭ ތަންތަނާއި، ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ޚިދުމަތް ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުމަށް ވަގުތީގޮތުން ޤާއިމުކުރެވޭ މާރުކޭޓުތަކާއި އުޅަނދުތަކާއި ސްޓޭންޑްތައް ރަޖިސްޓަރީކުރުން ލާޒިމެއް ނޫނެވެ.”

Where you can sell

From home or the farm

Not stated

No rule on selling eggs from the farm or home was found. Registration is not required at residences (art. 44(b)), and providing any kind of food service in the Maldives without a food service licence is prohibited (art. 53(a)); whether selling your own eggs at home is a food service, and so needs the licence, was not established. Producing and selling food at home for your own livelihood must follow the Authority's standard (art. 41).

Farmers markets

Not stated

Food sold in markets must meet the Act's general conditions (art. 38(b)). Registration is not required for markets, vehicles and stands set up temporarily to provide food (art. 44(b)), but providing any kind of food service without a food service licence is prohibited (art. 53(a)); whether selling eggs at such a market is a food service that needs the licence was not established. No egg-specific market rule was found.

Stores and restaurants

Not stated

No rule on shops or restaurants buying eggs from small sellers was found in the Act read.

Cartons, labels and handling

Cartons

The sources we read don't set a carton rule.

Refrigeration

Not stated in the sources we read.

The label must show

The sources we read don't list label items for small producers.

Grading

Not stated in the sources we read.

Washing

Not stated in the sources we read.

Pricing your dozen? The egg price calculator works it out from your feed bill.

Keeping chickens in the Maldives? →Registration, bird-flu housing orders and welfare rules, on their own page.Registration: conditions

Common questions

Can I sell eggs from my backyard chickens in the Maldives, and do I need a licence?: In the Maldives, any food service needs a licence, and food service premises must register, except homes and temporary markets, vehicles and stands. Whether selling your own eggs is a food service is not established. Small-flock line: licence and registration for food service premises; homes and temporary markets, vehicles and stands need no registration, but whether they need the licence was not established. The conditions, and the law they come from, are on this page.
Can I sell eggs at a farmers market in the Maldives?: Not stated in the sources we read. Food sold in markets must meet the Act's general conditions (art. 38(b)). Registration is not required for markets, vehicles and stands set up temporarily to provide food (art. 44(b)), but providing any kind of food service without a food service licence is prohibited (art. 53(a)); whether selling eggs at such a market is a food service that needs the licence was not established. No egg-specific market rule was found.
Can I reuse egg cartons in the Maldives?: The sources we read do not say; ask Maldives Food and Drug Authority (Food Safety Act); the ministry responsible for animal health (law on keeping animals and animal welfare) before reusing cartons for eggs you sell.
What has to be on the carton label in the Maldives?: The sources we read do not list label items for small producers.

Sources

arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · Law No. 6/2024, ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ރައްކާތެރިކަމުގެ ޤާނޫނު (Food Safety Act)
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · Law No. 25/2025, ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅުމާއި ޖަނަވާރުގެ ރައްކާތެރިކަމުގެ ޤާނޫނު (law on keeping animals and animal welfare)
Maldives Food and Drug Authority (Food Safety Act); the ministry responsible for animal health (law on keeping animals and animal welfare) · Licensing and registration of food service premises and providers under the Food Safety Act

Read the 29 passages this page is built on

“މި ޤާނޫނަށް ކިޔާނީ، " ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ރައްކާތެރިކަމުގެ ޤާނޫނު " އެވެ .”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“ތާރީޚު: 15 ޛުލްޤަޢިދާ 1445 – 23 މޭ 2024”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“މި ޤާނޫނަށް ޢަމަލުކުރަން ފަށާނީ، މި ޤާނޫނު ފާސްވެ، ތަޞްދީޤުކޮށް، ދިވެހިސަރުކާރުގެ ގެޒެޓުގައި ޝާއިޢުކުރާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެން 3 (ތިނެއް) މަސްދުވަސް ހަމަވާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެންނެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
"ކާބޯތަކެތި" ކަމަށް ބުނެފައި އެވަނީ، އިންސާނުން ކައިބޮއި ހެދުމަށް ބޭނުންކުރާ ނުވަތަ އެ ބޭނުމަށް ތައްޔާރުކުރެވިފައިވާ ކޮންމެ އެއްޗަކަށެވެ.
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ޚިދުމަތްދޭ ތަންތަނުން ޚިދުމަތް ދޭން ފެށުމުގެ ކުރިން، މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދާ އެއްގޮތްވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން ލައިސަންސް ހޯދައި އޮތޯރިޓީގައި ރަޖިސްޓަރީކުރަންވާނެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“މި މާއްދާގެ (ހ) އެހެން އޮތްނަމަވެސް، މީހުން ދިރިއުޅޭ ތަންތަނާއި، ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ޚިދުމަތް ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުމަށް ވަގުތީގޮތުން ޤާއިމުކުރެވޭ މާރުކޭޓުތަކާއި އުޅަނދުތަކާއި ސްޓޭންޑްތައް ރަޖިސްޓަރީކުރުން ލާޒިމެއް ނޫނެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ޚިދުމަތްދޭ އެންމެހައި ފަރާތްތައް، މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައިވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން އޮތޯރިޓީގައި ރަޖިސްޓަރީކުރަންވާނެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ޚިދުމަތްދޭ ފަރާތްތަކުގެ މާނައިގައި، މީހުން ދިރިއުޅޭ ތަންތަނާއި، ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ޚިދުމަތް ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުމަށް ވަގުތީގޮތުން ޤާއިމުކުރެވޭ މާރުކޭޓުތަކާއި އުޅަނދުތަކާއި ސްޓޭންޑްތަކުގައި މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ފަރާތްތަކެއް ނުހިމެނެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“އަމިއްލަ ދިރިއުޅުމަށްޓަކައި ކުރާ ކާބޯތަކެތި އުފައްދައި ވިއްކުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް ކުރަންވާނީ އެފަދަ ކާބޯތަކެތި އުފެއްދުމާ ގުޅޭގޮތުން އޮތޯރިޓީން ކަނޑައަޅާ މިންގަނޑާ އެއްގޮތްވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިންނެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“އަމިއްލަ ދިރިއުޅުމަށްޓަކައި ތިމާ އަމިއްލައަށް އާމްދަނީ ހޯދުމުގެ މަޤްޞަދުގައި، އަދި އިތުރު ފަރާތަކަށް މަންފާ ނުލިބޭ ގޮތަށް، އަމިއްލަ ގޭގައި ކުރާ ކާބޯތަކެތި އުފައްދައި ވިއްކުމުގެ މަސައްކަތަށެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“ކާބޯތަކެތި ވިއްކާ މާރުކޭޓު ފަދަ ތަންތަނުގައި ވިއްކާ ކާބޯތަކެތީގައި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ތިންވަނަ ބާބުގައި ބަޔާންކޮށްފައިވާ ޢާންމު ޝަރުޠުތައް ފުރިހަމަވާންވާނެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ މިންގަނޑުތަކާ އެއްގޮތްވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން ބަންދުކޮށް ލޭބަލްކުރުމަށް ފަހުގައި މެނުވީ، އެއްވެސް ފަރާތަކުން ބަންދުކޮށްފައިވާ ކާބޯތަކެތި ވިއްކައި،”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“މި ޤާނޫނަށް ކިޔާނީ "ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅުމާއި ޖަނަވާރުގެ ރައްކާތެރިކަމުގެ ޤާނޫނު" އެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“2025 ޑިސެންބަރު 3 ( 1447 ޖުމާދަލްއާޚިރާ 13 ) ވި ބުދަ ދުވަހު ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ތަޞްދީޤު ކުރެއްވުމުން ، މި ބިލު ޤާނޫނަކަށްވެ ، ދިވެހި ސަރުކާރުގެ ގެޒެޓުގައި މިއަދު ޝާއިޢު ކުރެވިއްޖެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“މި ޤާނޫނަށް ޢަމަލުކުރަން ފަށާނީ، މި ޤާނޫނު ފާސްވެ، ތަޞްދީޤުކޮށް، ދިވެހިސަރުކާރުގެ ގެޒެޓުގައި ޝާއިޢުކުރާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެން 90 (ނުވަދިހަ) ދުވަސް ހަމަވާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެންނެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި، ކޮންމެ ފަރާތަކުންވެސް ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅެ ބަލަހައްޓަންވާނީ، އަދި ޖަނަވާރާ ގުޅޭގޮތުން އެނޫންވެސް ކަމެއް ކުރަންވާނީ، ޖަނަވާރުގެ ޞިއްޙަތާއި، ޢާންމު ޞިއްޙަތު ރައްކާތެރިކުރުމަށް އަޅަންޖެހޭ ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އެޅުމާއެކު، ޖަނަވާރުގެ ދުޅަހެޔޮކަން ކަށަވަރުކުރުމަށް ބޭނުންވާ މިންގަނޑުތައް ފުރިހަމަވާނެ ގޮތުގެމަތިންނެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ލައިވްސްޓޮކް އަދި ޕޯލްޓްރީ ފާމިންގ ހިންގޭނީ، މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައިވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން މިނިސްޓްރީގައި ރަޖިސްޓަރީކުރުމަށްފަހުގައެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ވިޔަފާރި ހިންގުމަށް ނުވާގޮތުން، އަމިއްލަ ފަރުދުން، އެމީހުން ދިރިއުޅޭ ތަންތަނުގައި ގެންގުޅޭ ލައިވްސްޓޮކް ނުވަތަ ޕޯލްޓްރީގެ މައްޗަކަށް މި މާއްދާގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ އުސޫލުތަކެއް ނުހިނގާނެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ގެންގުޅުމުގެ ހުއްދަ ޤާނޫނުން ދޭ ބޭނުންތަކަށް ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅެ ބެލެހެއްޓުމުގައި ޢަމަލުކުރަންވާނީ، މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ އުސޫލުތަކާ އެއްގޮތްވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިންނެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ލައިވްސްޓޮކް އަދި ޕޯލްޓްރީގެ ގޮތުގައި ގެންގުޅޭ ޖަނަވާރާއި،”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“( 1 ) ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅުމާއި ބެލެހެއްޓުމުގައި ޢަމަލުކުރުމަށް މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން މިނިސްޓްރީން ކަނޑައަޅާ މިންގަނޑުތަކާއި އުސޫލުތައް، ސިޓީ އަދި ރަށު ފެންވަރުގައި ތަންފީޛުކުރުން ؛”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ޖަނަވާރަށް ޖެހޭ ބައްޔެއް ފެތުރޭ ހިނދެއްގައި، މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން ބަލިއުޅޭ ރަށް ނުވަތަ ސަރަޙައްދުތައް ކަނޑައަޅައި، އެއީ ކަރަންޓީން ސަރަޙައްދުތަކެއް ކަމުގައި ކަނޑައެޅުން ؛”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ބަލިޖެހިފައިވާކަމަށް ބެލެވޭ ޖަނަވާރު ކަރަންޓީނުކުރުމަށް ލާޒިމުކުރުން ؛”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ރައްކާތެރިކަމުގެ ފިޔަވަޅުތަކާއި ހަމަތަކާއި މިންގަނޑުތައް، މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައި ބަޔާންކުރަންވާނެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“އެފަދައިން ޖަނަވާރު ގެންގުޅެންވާނީ، މި ބާބުގައިވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން، ކަމާގުޅޭ ބޭނުންތަކަށް ހުއްދަކުރެވޭ ތަންތަނުގައި،”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“މި ޤާނޫނާއި މި ޤާނޫނުގެ ދަށުން ހަދާ ގަވާއިދުގައި ބަޔާންކޮށްފައިވާ ގޮތުގެމަތިން ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ޚިދުމަތްދިނުމުގެ ލައިސަންސްއެއް ހޯދުމަކާ ނުލައި، އެއްވެސް ބާވަތެއްގެ ކާބޯތަކެތީގެ ޚިދުމަތެއް ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ދިނުމަކީ މަނާކަމެކެވެ.”
arts. 1, 4, 26, 38, 41, 44, 46, 53, 101 · read 2026-10-30
“މި ޤާނޫނު ތަންފީޛުކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ކައުންސިލްތަކުން އަދާކުރަންޖެހޭ މަސްއޫލިއްޔަތުތައް ތިރީގައި ބަޔާންކޮށްފައި އެވަނީއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“މި ޤާނޫނުގެ 66 ވަނަ މާއްދާގެ ދަށުން ކަނޑައަޅައި އިޢުލާނުކޮށްފައިވާ ރިޕޯޓުކުރަންޖެހޭ ބައްޔެއް، އެއްވެސް ޤައުމެއްގައި ނުވަތަ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ފެތުރޭ ޙާލަތެއްގައި މިނިސްޓްރީން އަންނަނިވި ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އަޅަންވާނެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30
“ޖަނަވާރެއްގައި ނުވަތަ ޖަނަވާރުގެ ބައެއްގައި ރިޕޯޓުކުރަންޖެހޭ ބައްޔެއް ހުރިކަމަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވޭނަމަ، އަންނަނިވި ގޮތްތަކުންކުރެ ގޮތަކަށް މިނިސްޓްރީއަށް ޢަމަލުކުރެވިދާނެއެވެ.”
arts. 1, 7, 46, 49, 54, 55, 69, 70, 88 · read 2026-10-30

What we couldn't confirm

Regulations under the Food Safety Act (registration and licensing, hygiene, packaging and labelling, storage and transport) and under the law on keeping animals were not read; the Gazette's list of regulations was not searched.
The Gazette's list of laws was read from 2024 to 2026 and showed no law amending the Food Safety Act or the law on keeping animals and animal welfare.
The definitions read in the Food Safety Act do not define food service premises or food service providers; whether a household selling its own eggs is one, and so needs the food service licence (art. 53(a)), was not established.
The Maldives Food and Drug Authority's and the animal health ministry's own pages were not read, and the Parliament's website was not used.
Quotes are in Dhivehi, the language of the law; they follow the printed reading order of the Gazette text. English text on this page is our own summary, not an official translation.

More countries in Asia

Elsewhere in the world

Legal where you live? Then keep the books.

PoultryPal's sales ledger tracks customers, dozens and payments next to your feed costs, so you know your margin and not just your egg count. Premium includes financial tracking and the sales ledger. Free to download on iOS and Android.

Can you sell backyard eggs in the Maldives?

At a glance

In plain English

Do you need a licence?

Where you can sell

Cartons, labels and handling

Common questions

More countries in Asia

Elsewhere in the world

Legal where you live? Then keep the books.