A decree under which companies, establishments, and individuals are banned from importing plastic bags, issued in September 2022 is now ready for implementation in Oman.
Oman’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), in collaboration with the Directorate General of Customs, has announced the enforcement of Ministerial Decision No. (519/2022), prohibiting the importation of plastic bags in Oman effective from September 1, 2024.
The announcement underscores the Ministry’s commitment to addressing the environmental challenges posed by plastic waste. The ban targets a comprehensive list of products categorised under specific Harmonised System (HS) codes, including various types of sacks and bags, with a particular focus on those made from ethylene polymers.
The prohibition covers both biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics. For biodegradable plastics, the ban includes shopping bags, waste bags, food packaging bags, and medical use bags made from ethylene polymers. Non-biodegradable items covered by the ban include similar products, such as shopping bags, waste bags, food packaging bags, and medical use bags, also made from ethylene polymers.
This move by the Ministry is part of a broader effort to reduce plastic pollution and enhance environmental sustainability within Oman. It is in alignment with the announcement made by the Environmental Authority in February, which highlighted the ongoing efforts to eliminate plastic waste and reinforce environmental protection measures, as well as with the Authority's decision, to gradually phase out all forms of plastic shopping bags in Oman. Note that this decision is also based on the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Law, Royal Decree No. 106/2020 establishing the Environment Authority, and Ministerial Decision 2020/23 concerning the ban on single-use plastic shopping bags.