The government has deferred the ban on plastic straws until 2031, reversing a prohibition that had been in effect since 2022 as part of a national initiative to phase out single-use plastics.
Under current legislation, the President holds the authority to designate the list of single-use plastics prohibited for import into the Maldives. Since 2020, an updated list of banned items has been published annually.
Plastic straws were among the first items prohibited under the decree, with imports banned starting June 1, 2021. The manufacture and market distribution of plastic straws were prohibited effective December 19, 2022.
However, the revised list released by the government today permits the import of plastic straws until June 1, 2031. The ban on the production and market distribution of these items has also been pushed back to December 19, 2031.
The rationale behind granting a five-year extension for an item whose import and use had already been successfully phased out remains unclear. The government had not previously indicated that such a policy shift was under consideration.
| Plastic Item | Import Ban Date | Production Ban Date | Market Distribution Ban Date |
| Plastic Straws | June 1, 2031 | December 19, 2031 | December 19, 2031 |
| Plastic water bottles (500ml to 1L) | December 1, 2029 | December 1, 2029 | June 1, 2030 |
The government has also delayed the ban on plastic water bottles sized between 500ml and 1 litre. Originally scheduled to be prohibited from import and production by December next year, the deadline has now been moved to December 1, 2029. The ban on the market distribution of these bottles will now take effect on June 1, 2030.
Furthermore, the regulations regarding ready-to-drink beverages (excluding water) have been amended. While the ban previously applied to all bottles smaller than 500ml, the new list narrows the prohibition to bottles 250ml or smaller. This change allows for the continued import of juices and other beverages packaged in 500ml single-use plastic bottles.
Had the original timeline for phasing out plastics—which pose a significant threat to the environment and marine life—been maintained, 12 types of single-use plastics would have been completely eliminated from the Maldives by now. However, following repeated delays to the original schedule, a process that was slated for completion by December 2023 has now been extended to 2031.
This administration has also recently reduced the tax on plastic bags. The tax was introduced by the previous government to discourage plastic use and incentivise the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives.
