UAE to ban import and trade of single-use plastic items from Jan.1

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has announced the commencement of the second phase of Ministerial Decision No. 380 of 2022, which prohibits the import, manufacture and trade of an expanded range of single-use consumer plastic products and bags.

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The measure will take effect on Jan.1, 2026.

This step is part of the broader framework of environmental legislation designed to safeguard the UAE's natural ecosystem and minimise the environmental impacts of waste, in line with the nation's strategic priorities to advance sustainability and enhance quality of life.

The Ministry has clarified that the ban, effective January Ist of next year, covers a defined range of single-use items including beverage cups and lids; cutlery, such as spoons, forks, knives, and chopsticks; plates; straws; stirrers; and food containers and boxes made of Styrofoam.

The decision also establishes a comprehensive ban on single-use bags, regardless of their constituent material, including paper, if their thickness is less than 50 microns. This will take effect on the same date.

Eng. Alya Abdelrahim Alharmoodi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), said that the implementation of this decision is a crucial step in the UAE’s journey towards a more sustainable future.