Environmental Management (Prohibition of Plastic Carrier Bags and Plastic Bottle Cap Seals) Regulations, 2022 (G.N. No.291 of 2022).

These Regulations consisting of 34 articles aim at (i) banning the import, export, manufacturing, sell or offer for sale and use of plastic carrier bags regardless of their thickness and of beverages with plastic bottle cap seal; (ii) protecting human and animal health as well as the environment from adverse effects of utilization of plastic carrier bags, or plastic bottle cap seals; and (iii) providing economic and financial incentives for the production and importation of alternative carrier bags. Licensing authority shall not register or issue a license or permit to any person intending to import, export, manufacture, distribute or sell the items prohibited by these Regulations. Plastic or plastic packaging for medical services or industrial products or construction industry or agricultural sector or food processing or sanitary and waste management are exempted from the prohibition are exempted provided that (i) the waste are managed and disposed of in accordance with the concerned Regulations; (ii) such products meet the prescribed quality standards. Furthermore, the Ministry responsible for trade and industries shall be responsible for (i) promotion of investment on biodegradable packaging for exempted plastic packaging; (ii) promotion of the use of biodegradable packages for food processing and industrial products; (iii) promoting environmentally friendly technologies on production of exempted products.
The Regulations also indicate the different authorities responsible for ensuring compliance and enforcement of these Regulations at their areas of competence.