The amendments adjust the planned prohibition on the packaging, production, and import of single-use plastic water bottles sized between 500 ml and 1 litre.
Ministry of Tourism and Environment
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has amended Presidential Decree No. 17/2024, which outlines single-use plastics deemed detrimental to the environment, upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
The amendments adjust the planned prohibition on the packaging, production, and import of single-use plastic water bottles sized between 500 ml and 1 litre. Pursuant to the amendment, the ban, originally scheduled to take effect on 1 December 2025, has now been postponed to 1 December 2027.
Similarly, the prohibition of the sale of the same category of plastic bottles has been deferred. Previously set for implementation on 1 March 2026, the date has been revised to 1 June 2028.
This amendment has been incorporated into Presidential Decree No. 35/2025 (List of Single-Use Plastics Detrimental to the Environment) and has been published in the Government Gazette.
The first phase of the production and sales ban of single-use plastic items was announced to be effective from 01 June 2022, under the Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act No. 4/93). The phase-out plan is a national initiative to phase-out the production, import and sales of particular single use plastics in the Maldives and promote the use of sustainable alternatives, in order to safeguard public health, and the vulnerable marine environment of the country.
According to the Ministry, the goal is to reduce single-use plastic usage and move customers away from single-use plastic while promoting sustainable alternatives through targeted awareness and educational initiatives.
