Seychelles Cabinet Approves Sweeping Reforms Across Economy, Education and Environment
📷 Photo: State House Seychelles
VICTORIA, Seychelles — President Dr Patrick Herminie has chaired three successive Cabinet meetings over the past week, on Friday 17, Monday 20 and Wednesday 22 July 2026, approving a wide-ranging package of legal and policy memoranda that touches nearly every major area of Seychelles public life, from the Fair Trading Commission to the country’s future approach to electronic nicotine products, the foreign exchange framework, higher education, wildlife protection and the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
The communiqué, published on the State House website on 23 July, sets out the decisions in detail. Cabinet approved the Fair Trading Commission’s Strategic Plan, which is designed to strengthen the institution’s operational capacity, sharpen its enforcement of fair trading laws and improve its collaboration with stakeholders. The plan is presented as enabling legislation and institutional reforms to ensure a more efficient and responsive consumer protection framework.
On tobacco, the Cabinet approved the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Tobacco (Health Warnings and Messages) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, which together create a regulatory framework for electronic nicotine delivery systems, including electronic cigarettes. The amendments classify these products as tobacco for regulatory purposes, subjecting them to restrictions on advertising, public use, sales to minors, retail display and manufacturing permits, with tailored health warnings and enabling regulations on flavours, product tracking and plain packaging.
The financial sector is also substantially reshaped. Cabinet approved a proposed Policy and Legal Framework for the Regulation and Supervision of Seychelles’ Pension Sector, designating the Financial Services Authority as the prudential and market conduct supervisor of both public and private pension schemes, with the goal of a unified, risk-based supervisory framework. The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Foreign Exchange Act, 2009, that expand the definition of authorised dealers to include credit unions and licensed payment service providers, update key definitions to reflect current financial services and payment systems, and provide greater legal clarity on the advertising and pricing of goods and services.
On the environment, Cabinet approved the development of a new Wildlife Protection Bill to replace the outdated Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act, 1961. The new legislation is intended to provide a modern, comprehensive framework for the protection, conservation and sustainable management of wildlife, with stronger measures against poaching, illegal wildlife trade, mistreatment of wild animals and other emerging threats, while addressing wildlife welfare, captive management, rehabilitation of injured wildlife and human-wildlife interactions. The bill will harmonise with the Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora Act, 2021.
On education, Cabinet approved the National Artificial Intelligence in Education Framework 2026–2030, providing a national framework for the safe, ethical and responsible integration of AI across Seychelles’ education system. The framework strengthens governance, builds teacher capacity, promotes AI literacy, and supports the country’s digital transformation while preparing learners with future-ready skills. Cabinet also approved Seychelles’ ratification of UNESCO’s Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education.
In the agricultural sector, the Cabinet approved two bills to establish the legal framework for the creation of two new agencies: the Seychelles Agriculture Development Agency, which will lead agricultural development and support farmers, and the Biosecurity Agency of Seychelles, which will strengthen national biosecurity by protecting the country from pests, diseases and invasive alien species. The Cabinet also approved an Accelerated Recovery Framework to transition from emergency fuel price intervention measures to sustainable commercial operations at the Seychelles Petroleum Company, with domestic gasoil and mogas prices to be progressively restored, starting with an increase of approximately SCR 2 per litre, alongside targeted support measures.
Finally, the Cabinet approved Seychelles’ application to join the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and engagement with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, as well as a proposed engagement with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to support a comprehensive Community Policing initiative in Seychelles.
Sources cited: State House Seychelles — Cabinet Business, 23 July 2026; State House Seychelles — Photo Gallery 2026.
