In a decisive move to streamline environmental oversight, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has renamed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA), reinforcing the government’s commitment to effective environmental governance.
The change, enacted through Presidential Directive No. 2025/14 under powers granted by Article 116(a) of the Constitution, places the authority directly under the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, replacing the previous board-governed structure.
According to the government, the rebrand reflects the agency’s primary mandate — regulating environmental matters across the Maldives — and aims to strengthen efficiency, speed up decision-making, and align the institution’s identity with its core functions.
By centralising authority within the ministry, the administration intends to remove bureaucratic delays, ensure stronger enforcement of environmental laws, and accelerate the implementation of national sustainability goals.
President Muizzu’s administration has repeatedly pledged to modernise state agencies, enhance regulatory efficiency, and ensure that institutions deliver tangible results for the Maldivian people — this restructuring marks another step in that direction.
