Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation

Worldwide plastic production has soared from 2 million metric tonnes in 1950 to 400 million metric tonnes in 2022. With this relentless production and disposal of single use plastic materials, our planet has become a dumping ground for an alarming array of plastic debris. Thus, addressing the issue of plastic pollution and marine litter has become an urgent global imperative, demanding concerted efforts from individuals, communities, and governments worldwide. This is why, one of the priorities of Government is to make Mauritius a plastic pollution free Island.

 Accordingly, the Plastic Management Division was created in January 2021 with the aim to implement measures and initiate actions to make Mauritius a plastic pollution free country.

The main responsibilities of the Plastic Management Division are as follows:

1.      Formulate policies, strategies and action plan for plastic management towards a plastic pollution free Mauritius;  

2.     Process application and issue for registration certificate for plastic bags and single use plastic products in line with the Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020 and the Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2020;

3.     Process clearances for biodegradable/compostable plastic bags and biodegradable single use plastic products in line with the Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020 and the Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2020;

4.    Process application and issue (Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)) Permit in line with the Environment Protection (PET bottle Permit) Regulations 2001;

5.     Implement national projects to fulfil national, regional and international commitments in relation to control of plastic pollution;

6.    Coordinate the implementation, enforcement and formulation of plastic Regulations;

7.     Coordinate and promote research on alternatives to plastic and innovative approaches to manage plastic pollution; and

8.    Promote capacity building and awareness raising.

 There have been numerous measures taken to tackle plastic pollution and marine plastic litter. In addition to sensitisation / awareness and cleaning campaigns, Government promulgated the following legislations:

 (a)    Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2020

This regulation prohibits the possession, use, distribution, sale, export, import, manufacture or supply of plastic bags from 01 March 2021, including non-woven polypropylene bags, but with the exception of certain types of exempt plastic bags such as:

1) for the disposal of waste, including quarantine and clinical waste;

2) for the purpose of agriculture;

3) for medical purposes;

4) for sampling or analysis;

5) as integral part of the packaging in which goods, materials or products are sealed prior to sale on the local market or for export; and

6) Transparent re-sealable bags with security tamper used by a passenger or carried by a passenger on transfer to carry liquids, aerosols or gels at an airport or on board of an aircraft

The Regulation therefore encourages the use of biodegradable/compostable plastic bags or other eco-friendly alternatives.

A moratorium up to 31 August 2025 has been provided with respect to compliance with Regulation 2 therein, which requires that a biodegradable or compostable plastic bag does not contain petroleum-based materials or their derivatives.

(b)   Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020 

This regulation prohibits the manufacture, sale , supply and importation of the following 10 non-biodegradable single use plastic products since 15 January 2021:

1. Plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks);
2. Plastic plate;
3. Plastic cup;
4. Plastic bowl;
5. Plastic tray;
6. Plastic straw (including sealed plastic straw forming an integral part of the packaging of another product);
7. Plastic beverage stirrer;
8. Plastic hinged container;
9. Plastic lid for single use plastic products; and
10. Receptacles of any shape, with or without lid, used to contain food which is intended for immediate consumption, either on the spot or takeaway and supplied by a food service business.
    
    A moratorium up to 14 January 2026 has been granted to the local food manufacturers for specific packaging purposes, namely:    

1.      plastic cups and plastic bowls used solely for the packaging of dairy products (yoghurt, ice cream and butter), dessert, margarine and hot-filled packaged products (jelly and flan); and

 

2.     (ii) plastic trays used solely for the Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) of fresh, cooked or pre-cooked food products such as meat, burger, seafood and cheese.

Therefore, as from 15 January 2026, the above mentioned non-biodegradable single-use plastic products will be banned. 

REGISTRATION DESK

To support implementation of the duties of the Division, a Registration Desk has been set up. Importers and manufacturers are required to apply in respect of the following at the Registration Desk:

 (i) registration and renewal of​ certificates as importer and/or manufacturer of biodegradable single use products;

(ii) clearance to import biodegradable single use products;

(iii) registration and renewal of an importer and/or manufacturer of exempt plastics bags and compostable or biodegradable plastics bags; and

(iv) clearance to import or manufacture biodegradable or compostable plastics bags

 (v) authorisation to use specific single use plastic cups, bowls and trays (for the Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP only) for specific packaging purposes used by local food manufacturers (for additional information, please refer to the communique dated 16.01.2025). ​

 Plastic Regulations

1. Environment Protection (Polyethylene Terephthalate [PET] bottle Permit) Regulations 2001

​​2. Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2020

3.  (i).   Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020

     (ii).  Environment Protection ​​(Control o​f Single Use Plastic Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

     (iii). Environment​ Protection (Control of Sin​gle Use Plasti​c Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2​023

Instructions to Importers/Manufacturers

DOWNLOADABLE

​​​Single Use Products

• ​​Registration form to import or manufacture​ biodegradable single use products
  
• Clearance form to import biodegradable single use products​
• Application form for renewal of certificate of registration for biodegradable single use products​​​​
• ​Moratorium form for use of single use plastic products u​p​ to 14 January 2026 
• Return submission form (January - June)
• ​​Return submission form (July - December)

​Plastic Bags

• Message - Banned Plastic Bags
• ​​​​Registration form to impo​rt or manufa​cture exempt and/or biodegrable/compostable plastic bags​​
• ​​Clearance form to import biodegradable and compostable pl​astic bags - FOURTH SCHEDULE​
• ​Clearance form to manu​facture biodegradable and compostable plastic bags -FIFTH SCHEDULE
• ​
  Return submission form for exempt and biodegradable and compostable plasti​c Bags (Januar​y to June/July to December)

​​​​List of Registered Manufacturers and Importers

• List of ​Importers and Manufacturers of Biodegradable and Compostable Plastic bags​
  
• ​​​List of Importers and Manufacturers​ of Biode​gradable Single Use Products​