Fourth phase of single-use plastics ban takes effect today (July 1).

Ban on single-use plastic containers takes effect today (July 1).

Effective July 1, 2024, the importation, distribution, sale, or use of any single-use plastic food container made wholly or in part of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polylactic acid (PLA) will be prohibited. This is the fourth phase ban of single-use plastics in the island. For now, however, the ban excludes related transparent plastic lids until environmentally friendly alternatives become available.

The implementation period for this phase of the ban was extended by one month following concerns about inadequate stakeholder engagement and public education.

Minister with responsibility for the environment Matthew Samuda says local and international trade partners will on Monday be notified of the start of the implementation phase of the ban.

"We formally will advise the World Trade Organization, we'll advise Customs of what are our trade policy changes because ultimately none of these items that we've targeted are actually manufactured in Jamaica. So what we'll do is curtail the imports of single-use plastic lunch containers and curtail the imports of microplastics.

"But you don't start on day one because of the trade process. What you do is you advise the market formally, you do your sensitisation so that it's a six month run-up. But you start that implementation now, you cut imports, you let the trade run-off with the stock it has, so that by January 1 you're in a space where you're just not seeing these materials in the market," he noted.

Effective July 1, 2025, the ban will extend to personal care and cosmetic products containing intentionally added plastic micro beads or micro plastics. This will allow for thorough consultation and sensitisation among private sector stakeholders and regulatory authorities, ensuring a smooth transition.

According to the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the Technical Working Group on single-use plastic products, comprising senior officers from various agencies including the Bureau of Standards Jamaica and the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority, has been instrumental in shaping this phase of the ban.

It said it has also engaged with the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association and major importers and distributors of single-use plastic products to ensure comprehensive stakeholder input.

To facilitate the new regulations, the ministry noted that amendments to The Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018 will be made. These include expanding the definition of ‘single-use plastic’ to encompass plastic food containers and cosmetic care products with micro beads or micro plastics; exempting transparent plastic lids related to single-use plastic food containers; and retaining the existing prohibition measures.

Importers will be required to submit a pre-shipment declaration, including a quality or inspection certificate from an internationally recognised accreditation body, to aid regulatory agencies in identifying target products at ports.