No single-use plastic bags from January 2021 in Oman

Starting January 1, 2021, the Sultanate will say goodbye to the single-use plastic bags to control pollution and implement the law on environmental protection.

“Plastic bags contain high levels of lead, and when you throw them under the sun, they emit gases that are harmful to human health,” a statement said.

A per the Ministerial Resolution 23/2020 on March 15, 2020, single-use plastic shopping bags will be banned from January 1, 2021.

• Article 1 prohibits companies and institutions from using single-use plastic shopping bags that are used and disposed after single once in order to preserve the Omani environment.
• Article 2 imposes an administrative fine of no less than RO100, and no more than RO2, 000 for anyone who violates the provisions of this decision, and doubled in the case of repeated violations of the violation, without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated by the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Law.

It is reported that this decision was made according to the Law on Environmental Protection and Pollution Control issued by Royal Decree114/2001, and Royal Decree 18/2008 defining the terms of reference of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and adapting its organizational structure.

Several countries have warned against distributing plastic bags in stores in many cities due to their harm to humans and the environment.