Abu Dhabi: Single-use Plastic Ban Excludes These 7 Bag Types

Inspectors from EAD, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi (DED), and Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), were trained on Executive Regulations regarding single-use plastic products and their alternatives in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The ban decision excludes:

• bags designated for medicines in pharmacies
• bag rolls for vegetables, meat, fish, chicken, grains and bread (knot bags)
• large shopping bags designed for fashion or electronic gadgets, toys
• waste bags of different sizes and types
• bags designated for keeping messages, postal parcels or magazines and newspapers
• bags designated for transporting plants, flowers
• laundry bags

A ban will come into effect under the Emirate’s integrated Single-Use Plastic Policy on 1st June, 2022, which will prevent the sale of single-use plastic bags across all retailers.

Some major retailers have recently signed a voluntary declaration to support the implementation of the new policy in Abu Dhabi and to secure alternatives, resources, and financing to support environmental protection.

These retailers and outlets will charge customers a fee for each of the alternative multi-use plastic shopping bags.

This follows the launch of the integrated Single-Use Plastic Policy, which was approved by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EAD, in April 2022, that was initially introduced in 2020.