The Ministry of Environment has published the Maldives single-use plastics regulation. The rules target the import, production, and sale of banned plastic items. Anyone who breaks them can face fines of up to MVR 100,000. The regulation takes effect this September.
Thirteen items face a phased ban
The regulation bans 13 specific items in stages. A 2022 Presidential Decree first named these products. The Environmental Regulatory Authority will enforce the rules. The authority can fine anyone who imports, or produces the listed goods.
The banned items include:
- Single-use plastic straws, plates, spoons, knives, forks, and beverage stirrers
- Styrofoam boxes
- Supari (areca nut) packaged in plastic
- Plastic cups under 250 milliliters
- Shampoo and soap bottles under 50 milliliters
A strategy to cut plastic by 2030
The new rules demand a dedicated phase-out plan. This plan must eliminate all single-use plastics across the country by 2030. Officials must finish the plan by the end of October 2027. Drafters must weigh both environmental and economic impacts. They must also consult relevant stakeholders.
Awareness drive and eco-friendly alternatives
The regulation puts strong weight on public awareness. It also stresses the need for eco-friendly alternatives. The Maldives single-use plastics regulation ties its rollout to the supply of these greener options.
How the policy began
The government launched its plastic phase-out effort through a Presidential Decree in December 2021. The latest Maldives single-use plastics regulation builds directly on that decree.