Ethiopia has officially banned the production, sale, and use of single-use plastic bags, and these practices have ceased nationwide.
This measure will take effect on January 31, 2026. The Solid Waste Management Law, passed in July 2025, previously stipulated a six-month transition period, which has now expired.
"From today onwards, the production, sale, and use of single-use plastic bags will be strictly prohibited," announced Lilis Nemee, Director General of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Agency.
The legislation stipulates severe penalties for those who violate the ban and continue to use or trade plastic bags.
Penalties: Individuals found using or carrying plastic bags will be fined between 2,000 Ethiopian Birr (89 RMB) and 5,000 Ethiopian Birr (222.5 RMB), while manufacturers, importers, sellers, and distributors may face fines of up to 200,000 Ethiopian Birr (8,900 RMB) and imprisonment for up to five years.
Organizations found violating the law may be fined up to three times the individual fine.
Ethiopia's Solid Waste Management Law, enacted under Announcement No. 1383/2025, prohibits the production, import, sale, storage, and use of any single-use plastic products.
The law allows for exemptions in certain circumstances, namely when plastic packaging cannot be easily replaced by other materials and is used solely for that specific purpose. However, this exemption does not apply to plastic bags, as they are completely prohibited.
Safer Designs: The legislation also establishes an extended producer responsibility regime, requiring plastic manufacturers to adopt more environmentally friendly designs, reduce production waste, and provide financial support for the collection and recycling of plastic products at the end of their life cycle. Importers and retailers of bottled and packaged goods are also obligated to establish recycling systems for used containers.
With the implementation of the ban, Ethiopia joins a growing number of African countries that have banned the use of plastic bags, including Rwanda, Kenya, Tunisia, and Nigeria.
