UAE to ban imports of single-use plastic products from 2024
According to Ministerial Resolution No. 380 of 2022, issued on January 10, 2023, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will ban most single-use plastic products from 2024. The resolution states that from January 1, 2024, the import, production or circulation of disposable plastic (including biodegradable plastic) shopping bags will be prohibited.
From January 1, 2026, the import, production or distribution of most other single-use plastic products will also be banned. Items such as soft drink cups and lids, spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, plates, straws, stirrers, food containers and boxes made of expanded plastic are all affected. The resolution also urges businesses and consumers to adopt practices that reduce the production and consumption of single-use plastics, such as plastic packaging, during this time.
The ban exempts the following products: rolls of tissue paper bags that comply with Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MCCE) specifications; products clearly marked for export or re-export only; single-use bags and items made from materials recycled in the UAE; and government agencies Any goods or materials exempted.
