The President's Office says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a decree on Monday republishing the list of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) banned for import into the Maldives under the Waste Management Act (Act No. 24/2022).
The President's Office said that phasing out the use of SUPs in the Maldives is one of the government’s key environmental pledges.
The Waste Management Act ratified on December 18, 2022, repealed Sections 1-8 of the Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act No. 4/1993).
The President's Office said that the newly ratified law governs the implementation and enforcement of sustainable waste management practices and policies drawn up to mitigate the negative effects of waste and protect public health, and it outlines the standards and procedures for sustainable waste management.
The bill also specifies administrative and punitive measures and penalizes criminal offenses.
The purposes of the law include reducing pollution and environmental damage caused by waste, encouraging the reduction of public health risks, reducing the production of waste, and encouraging the recycling and reusing of waste. The law also specifies penalties for any form of damage to waste management systems, including mismanagement and negligence.
The list published yesterday specifies 13 items, prohibits their manufacture within the country, and dates when they will be banned from importation into the country.
