The government has revealed that the decision to reverse the ban on single-use plastic straws—prohibited from import in 2022—and allow their entry until 2031 was prompted by practical difficulties in using paper alternatives.
Under current legislation, the President holds the authority to determine the list of single-use plastics prohibited for import into the Maldives. Since 2020, an annual list has been published detailing the items subject to these restrictions.
Plastic straws were among the items banned from import starting June 1, 2021, under the first presidential decree. The manufacture and market distribution of plastic straws were prohibited effective December 19, 2022.
However, the updated list released by the government yesterday extends the period for importing plastic straws until June 1, 2031. The ban on the local production and sale of these items has also been deferred to December 19, 2031.
"It has been noted that the paper straws currently available in the market tend to become soggy and dissolve, making them difficult to use. Furthermore, it has been observed that because these straws often contain plastic coatings and adhesives, they have a high potential for generating microplastics," the Environment Ministry stated today.
Had the initiative to ban plastics—which cause significant damage to the Maldivian environment, particularly marine life—proceeded according to the original timeline, 12 types of single-use plastics would have been completely phased out by now. However, following several amendments and delays to the plan, a process originally slated for completion by December 2023 has now been pushed back to 2031.
