3 days ago
Oman Expands Plastic Bag Ban To Retail And Food Sectors In Third Phase Of National Plan
Oman is set to roll out the third phase of its ambitious national ban on single-use plastic shopping bags on July 1, 2025, further tightening restrictions to reduce plastic waste and promote environmental sustainability.
The Environment Authority announced that this latest stage will expand the ban to cover additional segments of the retail and food sectors, including fruit and vegetable shops, grocery stores, packaging units, candy factories, sweet shops, bakeries, gift shops, and outlets selling bread, pastries, and confectionery.
Businesses in these categories will be required to transition to more eco-friendly alternatives such as reusable cloth and paper bags.
The measure is designed to accelerate Oman's progress toward curbing plastic pollution and aligns with the country's Vision 2040 agenda to promote sustainable consumption and protect natural resources for future generations.
'The cooperation of businesses and consumers is key for the success of this initiative,' the Environment Authority said in a statement, urging the public to adapt to the new requirements and embrace environmentally conscious habits.
Oman's phased approach began on July 1, 2024, when the first stage targeted pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics.
The second phase, effective from January 2025, extended the ban to textiles, clothing outlets, eyewear shops, mobile phone vendors, watch retailers, furniture stores, and household goods suppliers.
Under Decision No. 8/2024, the ban will be gradually implemented across all sectors, with the goal of eliminating single-use plastic shopping bags nationwide by 2027.
Violators of the ban face fines ranging from 50 to 1,000 Omani riyals, with repeat offenders subject to doubled penalties if another violation occurs within a month.
