Maldives has decided to implement the first phase of Single-Use Plastic Phase-out Plan 2020-2023 from June onwards.
Under a presidential decree issued by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on December 29, 2021, 13 types of single-use plastics are set to be banned from import to the Maldives across different phases this year. The first phase will be in effect from June 1 under the Environment Protection and Preservation Act, and includes the ban on the production and sales of eight different types of single-use plastics.
Items to be banned from June onwards include plastic bags below 30cm x 30cm, plastic straws used in drinks, as well as plastic cutlery, stirrers, plates and cups below 250ml. In addition, production and sale of imported beverages in plastic packages that are below 500ml, supari in plastic packaging, plastic stemmed cotton buds and Styrofoam lunch boxes as well as shampoo and soap in plastic bottles below 50ml have also been banned effective from June.
The phase-out plan is a national initiative to phase-out the production, import and sales of particular single use plastics in the Maldives and promote the use of sustainable alternatives, in order to safeguard public health, and the vulnerable marine environment of the country. Furthermore, the goal is to reduce single-use plastic usage and move customers away from single-use plastic while promoting sustainable alternatives through targeted awareness and educational initiatives. The government is committed to phasing out single-use plastics in the Maldives by 2023, as per the Parliament Resolution of 2019 and the declaration made by President Solih at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2019.