Seychelles Cabinet Approves Sweeping Legal Reforms
The Seychelles Cabinet, under President Patrick Herminie, has approved a series of significant legal and policy reforms aimed at enhancing various sectors of the nation's economy, education, and environment.
Fair Trading Commission Strategic Plan
The Cabinet endorsed the Fair Trading Commission Strategic Plan, which outlines a roadmap to strengthen consumer protection, promote fair competition, and improve the enforcement of trading laws. This plan aims to enhance operational effectiveness, foster stakeholder collaboration, and implement legislative reforms to ensure a responsive framework.
Pension Regulation Framework
Approval was granted for a Policy and Legal Framework for Pension Regulation, designating the Financial Services Authority (FSA) as the supervisor of both public and private pension schemes. These reforms establish a unified, risk-based framework to bolster governance, transparency, and consumer protection within the pension sector.
Multidimensional Vulnerability Index Measures
The Cabinet adopted national measures to support the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), including stronger advocacy, improved data capacity, and alignment of planning frameworks. These initiatives aim to better reflect Seychelles’ structural vulnerabilities and improve access to concessional financing.
Tobacco Control Amendments
The Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and related regulations were approved, creating a framework for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). ENDS are now classified as tobacco products, subject to advertising restrictions, sales controls, health warnings, and regulations on flavors, packaging, and disposable devices.
Community Policing Initiative
The Cabinet endorsed engagement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to implement a Community Policing initiative. This initiative aims to strengthen partnerships between police and communities, enhance crime prevention, and modernize policing through training and technology.
Foreign Exchange Act Amendments
Amendments to the Foreign Exchange Act, 2009, were approved to modernize Seychelles’ foreign exchange framework. Updates expand authorized dealers to include Credit Unions and Payment Service Providers, clarify domestic use of foreign currency, and strengthen regulation of transactions.
Wildlife Protection Bill
The Cabinet approved the drafting of a Wildlife Protection Bill to replace the 1961 Act, providing a modern framework for conservation and sustainable management. The bill strengthens measures against poaching, illegal trade, and mistreatment, while addressing welfare, rehabilitation, and human-wildlife interactions.
UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Membership
Seychelles’ application to join the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) was approved, alongside engagement with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Membership will support climate resilience, maritime security, disaster preparedness, and sustainable ocean management through space-based technologies.
UNESCO Global Convention Ratification
The Cabinet ratified UNESCO’s Global Convention on Higher Education Qualifications, strengthening recognition of qualifications, promoting mobility, and enhancing international cooperation.
National AI in Education Framework
The National AI in Education Framework 2026–2030 was approved, providing a framework for the safe, ethical integration of AI in schools. It strengthens governance, builds teacher capacity, promotes AI literacy, and prepares learners with future-ready skills.
Agricultural and Biosecurity Agencies
The Cabinet endorsed the Seychelles Agriculture Development Agency Bill, 2026, and the Biosecurity Agency of Seychelles Bill, 2026, establishing agencies to lead agricultural development and strengthen biosecurity against pests, diseases, and invasive species.
Accelerated Recovery Framework
Finally, the Cabinet approved an Accelerated Recovery Framework to transition from emergency fuel price interventions to sustainable operations. Measures include a R2 per litre increase in gasoil and mogas prices, targeted support, and phased restoration to safeguard Seypec’s sustainability and fuel security.
These comprehensive reforms reflect the government's commitment to modernizing legal frameworks and enhancing the nation's socio-economic landscape.
