Malta bans single-use plastic products from the market

In recent years, many countries have issued bans on single-use plastic products.
, for example, in 2019 the European Union issued the Directive (EU) 2019/904 on reducing the environmental impact of certain plastic products, which conveys the EU's plastics strategy and is an important factor in the EU's move towards a circular economy.
promote the EU's transition to a circular economy by adopting a range of measures for products covered by the Directive, including a ban on the use of single-use plastic products within the EU, where alternatives are available.
, some EU member states, including Belgium, Greece, France, Lithuania and Slovakia, have been or are in the process of transforming their own regulations as required by the Directive.
the end of 2020, Malta, another MEMBER of the European Union, issued the Regulation on Market Restrictions on Disposable Plastic Products, clarifying its practical measures to implement the EU's regulation requirements for disposable plastic products.
. The Market Restrictions on Disposable Plastic Products Regulation issued by Malta focuses on the implementation of articles 5 and 6 (1) and 6 (2) of the EU Directive 2019/904.
Directive (EU) 2019/904 Article 5 is a restriction on the market for products: Member States are required to prohibit the sale of single-use plastic products listed in Annex B of the Directive and products made from oxygen-containing biodegradable plastics.
this section has been fully adopted by Malta's Single Plastics Market Restrictions Ordinance and is directly translated into Section 4 (1) and Schedule A of the Regulations, but Malta directly prohibits such products from being placed on the market.
(EU) Section 6 of 2019/904 is a requirement for product form.
Article 6 (1) requires that, for single-use plastic products with plastic caps listed in Appendix C, Member States should ensure that they are placed on the market only when the caps and caps (caps and lids) are still attached to the container during the expected use phase of the product.
6 (2) of the Article 6 shall not be deemed to be made of plastic for the requirements of article 6.
This section is fully adopted by Malta's Single Plastics Market Restrictions Ordinance and is directly translated into Section 4 (2) and Schedule B of the Regulations, but Malta directly prohibits such products from being placed on the market.
II. The restrictions of the EU Directive on the content of the ban and the prohibition of the launch of single-use plastic products under Maltese regulations are products made of plastic in whole or in part, and are not conceived, designed or put on the market for the same purpose of refilling or re-using the manufacturer for the same purpose as they were intended, not for the purpose of completing multiple trips or rotations over their lifetime.
in short, this product design can not be reused after completion, can not be re-canned, can not be reused in accordance with its original use purposes, is only for one-time use of the product.
the ban, such products consist of two main categories: disposable plastic products and products made from oxygen-containing biodegradable plastics, as well as disposable plastic products with plastic caps.
, disposable plastic products and products made from oxygen-containing biodegradable plastics consist mainly of the following 9 categories (Part A of the Maltese Regulations) :(1) cotton swab, which belong to Council Directive 90/385/EEC or Council Directive 93/42/Except for products in the EE range; (2) dishes (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks) ;(3) plates; (4) straws, except for products within the scope of Directive 90/385/EEC or 93/42/EEC (5) beverage mixers; (6) sticks attached to balloons and supported by balloons, except for balloons for industrial or other professional purposes and applications, which are not distributed to consumers, including machinery for such sticks; (7) food containers made of foaming polystyrene, i.e. Covered or uncumed containers, such as boxes, are used to contain the following foods: (a) can be eaten directly: on-site or takeaway, (b) usually eaten directly in containers, (c) ready-to-eat without any further preparation, such as cooking, boiling or heating, Includes food containers for fast food or other immediately edible meals, except beverage containers, plates and bags containing food, and wrapping paper;
(9) a beverage cup made from foaming polystyrene, including its bottle cap and cap (covers and lids).
Disposable plastic products with plastic caps (Part B of the Malta Regulations) are mainly beverage containers with a capacity of no more than 3L, i.e. containers for liquids, such as beverage bottles (including caps and caps) and composite beverage packaging (including caps and bottles) cover), but does not include: (a) glass or metal beverage containers with plastic lids, and (b) beverage containers for liquid form special medical use products as defined in Article 2 (g) of EU Regulation (EU) No 609/2013.
3. The implementation period and the non-compliance instructions maltese regulations provide that, as of 1 January 2021, it is prohibited to put on the market disposable plastic products listed in Part A of the Regulations and products made from oxygen-containing biodegradable plastics.
as of 3 July 2024, it is prohibited to put on the market disposable plastic products listed in Part B of the Regulations, which must have a cap or cover made of plastic.
, however, are exempt from this prohibition only if their caps and caps are made of plastic.
the lid remains on the container during the product life phase.
, metal covers or lids with plastic seals shall not be considered to be made of plastic, as required by regulations.
any person who violates or does not comply with the prohibitions required by this Regulation is convicted of an offence.
first conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than 1,500 euros (€1,500) and a second or subsequent conviction by a fine of not more than 2,500 euros (€2,500).
4. Unseconded issues combined with China's management requirements for disposable plastic products, the ban on plastics initiated by the Ministry of Commerce of China, plastic restriction requirements are mainly targeted at all types of supermarkets, shopping malls, fairs, e-commerce platforms and takeaway enterprises (through e-commerce platforms and other means to provide takeaway services zero Sales, catering enterprises); the types of products involved mainly include: non-degradable plastic shopping bags, roll bags, plastic bags (including woven bags), non-degradable disposable plastic lunch boxes, plastic tableware (knife, fork, spoon) and plastic straw.
The objects and product categories of plastic restrictions in China are relatively clear, in contrast to the EU Plastics Restriction Directive and Malta's Plastics Ban: there is no clear indication of the type of enterprise and specific product categories to be applied, there will be a significant deviation in the specific implementation process, as member states on the implementation of the directive and practical problems arise, the EU level or the Maltese authorities may consider the introduction of further guidance notes or similar documents.
, in conjunction with the EU Directive and Malta's regulations on the management of single-use plastic products, Malta in the conversion of the EU Directive requirements, the adoption of more stringent prohibition measures, and the corresponding illegal disposal requirements.
in accordance with the requirements of the EU Directive 2019/904, the management measures for plastic products in the Member States' Conversion Development Directive to limit their market launch should be completed by July 3, 2021 and July 3, 2024, respectively.
, more EU member states should introduce policies or regulations in the first half of this year to restrict or ban the sale of single-use plastics.
At that time, our common bottled instant noodles, fans and other convenient products in the plastic fork should be banned by the legislation of many EU member states, to urge companies with such products to europe to do a good job in advance of the relevant plans and measures.