Inventory of bans and restrictions on plastics requirements of various countries and organizations

Food Partners Reuters With the plastic attention to pollution problems, more and more countries or organizations through the development of prohibiting the use of disposable plastic products , plastic waste recycling and extended producer responsibility and a series of measures to reduce caused by plastic waste Environmental pollution
.
At present, the European Union and some of its member states, the United States , Australia and New Zealand , Canada , the United Kingdom , South Korea, Japan and other countries/organizations have successively introduced relevant regulations and policies, starting from many aspects to greatly control the use of plastic products and plastics.
Recycling and utilization of garbage
.

 

1.
European Union

 

On June 12, 2019, the European Commission issued Directive (EU) 2019/904 "Disposable Plastics".
The directive applies to single-use plastic products.
The plastic products that are explicitly banned in the directive include: tableware, plates, straws, cotton swabs, beverage stirrer, a balloon support rod and oxidizable food containers made of polystyrene degradation products made of plastic
.
The directive stipulates that member states shall make the necessary laws, regulations and administrative regulations in compliance with this directive effective before July 3, 2021
.
At present, some EU member states have or are in the process of transforming and formulating their national laws and regulations in accordance with the requirements of the directive, including: Belgium, Greece, France, Lithuania, Malta and Slovakia
.

 

In June 2021, the European Union also issued relevant guidelines and implementation resolutions on the plastic restriction order.
On June 7, the European Union issued the "Guidelines on Disposable Plastic Products" (2021/C 216/01), June 15 , The European Union issued an implementation resolution (EU) 2021/958 "The European Union, in accordance with Article 13(1)(d) and Article 13(2) of the Directive (EU) 2019/904, formulates data collected by fishing gear placed on the market and discarded fishing gear by member states And the format of the information report, and the format of the quality inspection report", starting from July 2021, the content specified in the directive will gradually be officially enforced
.

 

2.
The United States

 

The United States has not yet formulated regulations to restrict plastics at the federal level.
However, many states and cities in the United States have issued regulations restricting the use of disposable plastic products
.
Although the restriction and ban on single-use plastic products has not been uniformly regulated at the federal level, a national ban on microbeads has been formulated at the federal level
.

 

On December 18, 2015, Congress passed the "Prohibition of Plastic Microbead Water Protection Act 2015" and amended the "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
.
" It is forbidden to manufacture, package and distribute flushing cosmetics containing plastic microbeads
.

 

U.
S.
states’ restrictions on plastics are reflected in two aspects: some states focus on implementing effective recycling programs, while others impose bans or fees to completely prevent the use of plastic bags
.
Among them, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon and Vermont have adopted measures to prohibit the use of disposable plastic bags
.
California, Delaware, New York and Rhode Island have established corresponding recycling programs
.

 

3.
Australia

 

　　In November 2016, the Australian Minister of Environment approved the new "Australian Packaging Convention" and the five-year strategic plan "Australian Packaging Convention Strategic Plan (2017 -2022)”, focusing on improving resource efficiency through sustainable packaging design, transferring packaging from landfills through consumer education and packaging disposal labels, and improving packaging sustainability through research and knowledge sharing
.

 

　　The goals and actions for the implementation of the National Waste Policy in 2018 are set out in the Action Plan for the National Waste Policy in 2019
.
In response to the goal of “prohibiting the export of waste plastics, paper, glass and tires from the second half of 2020” mentioned in the “National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019”, Australia issued the “Export Ban on Waste Plastics, Paper and Tires”
.

 

　　Australia’s states and districts have successively enacted legislation to ban the use of disposable plastic bags in recent years
.
New South Wales is the only state that has not yet committed to ban or tax single-use plastic bags
.

 

　　4.
New Zealand

 

　　On August 10, 2018, the New Zealand government announced that it would gradually ban disposable plastic shopping bags in 2019.
Retailers have 6 months to gradually stop providing light plastic bags
.
Since July 1, 2019, New Zealand has banned the use of disposable plastic shopping bags.
Companies that violate the New Zealand ban will face heavy fines, including fines of up to 100,000 New Zealand dollars
.

 

　　In addition, the New Zealand Ministry of Environmental Protection will phase out some difficult-to-recycle PVC and polystyrene, as well as 7 kinds of disposable plastic products (plastic straws, plastic cotton, beverage mixers, tableware (such as plastic plates, bowls) in August 2020.
, Tableware), disposable cups and lids, disposable agricultural product bags and non-compostable product stickers) released a draft for comments
.

 

　　5.
Canada

 

　　On June 2, 2017, Canada issued the Regulations on Microplastics in Cosmetics and came into effect on March 23, 2021.
The regulations prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of certain cosmetics, including over-the-counter drugs and natural health products containing plastic microbeads
.

 

　　On June 10, 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian government will ban the use of harmful single-use plastics (such as plastic bags, straws, tableware) as early as 2021 with scientific evidence and basis.
, Plates and stirring rods), and take other measures to reduce the pollution of plastic products and packaging
.
Cooperate with provinces and regions to introduce standards and targets for companies that produce plastic products or sell items with plastic packaging so that they can be held accountable for their plastic waste
.
These measures will be based on scientific evidence and, as appropriate, consistent with similar actions taken by the European Union and other countries
.
They will also support the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment to develop an action plan to implement the "Zero Plastic Waste Strategy" across Canada
.

 

　　At present, Nova Scotia has issued the "Disposable Plastic Bag Ban", which clearly prohibits all businesses, including grocery stores, from using disposable plastic bags from October 30, 2020, but it has also formulated exemptions for specific circumstances
.

 

　　6.
United Kingdom

 

　　Since England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland successively introduced the 5 pence plastic bag charging policy in 2015, the United Kingdom has achieved remarkable results in the prohibition and restriction of plastics.
The United Kingdom has successively issued a series of policies for microbeads, beverage containers and disposable plastic products.

.

 

　　From 2017 to 2019, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland successively introduced the Environmental Protection (Beads) Regulations to completely prohibit the use of microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products
.

 

　　On February 18, 2019, the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) initiated three consultations: the launch of a beverage container deposit refund program in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
.
These measures will resolve the confusion in household recycling and ensure that producers pay the full net cost of collecting and managing packaging waste
.

 

　　On March 11, 2020, the British government intends to impose a new plastic packaging tax, imposing 200 pounds per ton on plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic
.
The new policy will take effect in April 2022
.
This move aims to encourage the use of recycled plastics, increase the demand for recycled plastics, and increase the utilization rate of renewable materials
.

 

　　On September 10, 2020, the United Kingdom issued the Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Swabs and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020, which stipulates that the use of plastic straws, cotton swabs and stirrers in England is prohibited
.

 

　　7.
South Korea

 

　　In order to curb environmental pollution caused by plastic products, South Korea has successively introduced a series of policies
.

 

　　According to the amendment to the "Regulations on the Implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Resource Conservation and Recycling" implemented on January 1, 2019, South Korea bans the use of plastic bags in large stores and supermarkets
.

 

　　On December 25, 2019, South Korea implemented the "Resource Recycling Law" amendment and "Packaging Material Material and Structure Standards" notice regulations, prohibiting the use of difficult-to-recycle colored PET bottles and the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in beverage packaging At the same time, the manufacturer shall not use materials that are difficult to recycle or materials mixed with other materials to produce packaging materials
.

 

　　On June 5, 2020, the Ministry of Environment released the amendment to the "Life Chemical Products and Safety and Labeling Standards that Need to Be Safety Confirmed", stipulating that from January 1, 2021, it is prohibited to produce and import cleaning products (cleaning agents).
, Descaler), laundry products (washing powder, bleach, fiber softener) use microplastic beads for cleaning and grinding
.

 

　　On February 17, 2020, South Korea officially issued and implemented the "Packaging Material and Structural Grade Marking Standards" in accordance with the "Relevant Laws on the Promotion of Resource Conservation and Recycling" and its implementation rules, which stipulated the mandatory recycling of materials to produce trademarks for packaging.
Items required for the evaluation results of materials and structures
.

 

　　On June 29, 2020, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea issued the "Notice on Restricting Imports of Waste Products to Promote Domestic Waste Recycling", restricting the import of 4 types of plastic (PET/PE/PP/PS) products
.

 

　　On February 15, 2021, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea issued a draft amendment to the “Implementation Order for the Promotion of Resource Conservation and Reuse Laws”.
This draft amendment restricts the use of plastics and other disposable items, and prohibits the use of plastics and other disposable items.
Paper cups, plastic straws and stirrers are used in restaurants
.
At the same time, the current ban on the use of plastic bags in large stores (above 3000m2) and supermarkets (above 165m2) has been expanded to prohibit the use of plastic bags in retail stores and bakeries
.

 

　　8.
Japan

 

　　In order to curb the excessive use of plastic bags and encourage consumers to change their life>
.
At the same time, in order to facilitate the smooth implementation of the system, the "Guide to Charges for Plastic Bags" was also issued
.

 

　　Japan recognizes that the importance of further promoting the recycling of domestic plastic resources has become increasingly prominent
.
In view of this, on March 9, 2021, the Japanese Cabinet proposed the "Promotion of Plastic Resource Recycling Act", which has now been submitted to the Diet
.
The bill intends to make all plastics into recyclable resources from production to recycling.
The national government will certify products that are easy to recycle.
At the same time, convenience stores and other retail companies will be required to charge or use disposable plastic items such as spoons and straws.
Substitutes replace them
.
Companies that fail to take action and ignore government orders may be fined up to 500,000 yen
.

 

　　Since the concept of banning and restricting plastics was put forward, countries have gradually formulated regulations and plans for banning and restricting plastics
.
The promulgation of the "plastic ban" has brought a crisis to the plastics industry
.
As a major exporter of plastic products such as disposable straws, along with the restrictions on plastic products, it also brings opportunities for the research and development of research and development of alternatives to plastic products
.
FoodPartner.
com will continue to pay attention to the implementation and progress of the global plastic ban and restriction policy, in order to provide the industry with the latest regulations and policy information
.
　　This article is an original article by the Food Safety Compliance Division of FoodPartner.
com, please contact us for reprinting
.
The Food Safety Compliance Division provides domestic and foreign food standards and regulations management and consulting, food safety information monitoring and analysis and early warning, product registration and filing services, label review and compliance consulting, conference training services, etc.
, for detailed inquiries: 0535-2129301, email : Vip@foodmate.
net
.