India
India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has promulgated two notifications regarding the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, on November 20, 2023. In both of the notifications, CPCB requested the State …
Vietnam
On November 7, 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam established Decision No. 3257/QD-BTNMT Promulgating Vietnam Eco-Label Criteria Applicable to Environmentally Friendly Plastic Packaging and enforced it …
South Korea
On November 2, 2023, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of South Korea announced that in order to further promote the use of recycled materials, it will further reduce the mandatory …
China
On October 12, 2023, the National Development and Reform Commission and other three central government agencies of China launched the “Three-year action plan for promoting bamboo as an eco-friendly substitute …
India
India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released an amendment draft for the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and is inviting public comment for 60 days. The …
*Hong Kong
On October 18, 2023, the Hong Kong government announced that the Legislative Council had passed the Product Eco-responsibility (Amendment) Bill 2023 (Amendment Bill). Once the Chief Executive promulgates the Amendment …
Australia
On August 25, 2023, the State of Queensland promulgated the “Waste Reduction and Recycling Regulation 2023” (the “Regulation”). Parts 5 and 6 of the Regulation came into force on September …
*Taiwan
Based on the guidance of the Resource Recycling Bureau, Ministry of the Environment of Taiwan, on August 29, September 5 and September 6, 2023, the Eco Technology & Consultants Co., …
India
India’s Goa state cabinet has passed the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2023 on August 1, 2023. The bill seeks to amend the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996, …
China
On September 4, 2023, the Macao Special Administrative Region of China announced that by amending Article 5(1) of the Trade Law, the import of disposable non-degradable plastic plates and cups …
*Taiwan
On August 21, 2023, the Ministry of Environment of Taiwan released the amendment to the notice “Subsidies for collecting/removing/processing regulated waste containers”. According to the Article 18 of the “Waste …
Pakistan
Pakistan government are strengthening regulations on plastic products an packaging.
Pakistan
Plastics regulations are being significantly tightened in Punjab province in Pakistan.
*Taiwan
On June 29, 2023, the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan of Taiwan (Taiwan EPA) announced the amendments to the Notice “Parties subject to and implementation methods of disposable tableware use …
Vietnam
On May 22, 2023, the Vietnamese government promulgated Prime Minister’s Decision No. 13/2023/QD-TTg on the List of Scraps Importable as Production Raw Materials (hereinafter “the Decision”). The Decision defines iron/steel/cast …
Singapore
The Resource Sustainability (Disposable Carrier Bag Charge) Regulations 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) were promulgated in Singapore on May 25, 2023. Under the Resource Sustainability (Amendment) Act 2023 …
India
India ‘s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has promulgated four notices on the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging, each on April 19, May 9, May 19, …
Global
From May 29 to June 2, 2023, at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, the second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) for …
*Taiwan
On May 19, 2023, the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan of Taiwan released the amended notice “The range of articles, their packaging/containers, and operators responsible for recycling, clearance and treatment …
Global
On May 3, 2023, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a technical report, “Chemicals in Plastics.” Based on compelling scientific evidence, the report calls on countries around the world …
China
On May 10, 2023, China’s Ministry of Commerce published measures on the use and reporting of single-use plastic products in commerce1, which will come into effect June 20, 2023, replacing …
India
India partially relaxed plastic waste regulations.
South Korea
On March 28, 2023, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea announced to add color and weight standards to 1) packaging material and structure standards and 2) evaluation criteria for …
*Taiwan
Under the amended notice “Recycling levy rate of collection, removal, and disposal of items”, which announced by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) on April 27, 2023, “items containing 25% …
South Korea
South Korea Ministry of Environment promulgated a revised version of the 2023 Mandatory Recycling Rates by Product and Packaging Material (Ministry of Environment Notification No. 2023-54) and announced that it …
China
On April 24, 2023, China’s Standardization Administration, nine other government departments and People’s Bank jointly published guidelines on the development of standards for carbon emissions peaking and carbon neutrality. The …
China
Local governments of China are launching programs for new pollutant control one after another, in response to the national new pollutant control program announced by the State Council May 24, …
Thailand
On December 19, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration of Ministry of Public Health in Thailand promulgated “the Food and Drug Administration Notification: List of Safety Evaluation Agencies and Food …
China
On April 11, 2023, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China jointly notified the WTO of the draft of the mandatory national standard (GB) “Limits …
Sri Lanka
On 1 March 2023, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) of Sri Lanka published draft guidelines for the implementation of the National Environmental (Plastic Material Identification Standards) Regulations No. 01 of …
India
On April 3, 2023, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India issued a supplementary document, in the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) of plastic packaging waste. The EPR …
China
On Feb. 27, 2023, the Development and Reform Bureau of Zhuhai city, Guangdong province, China, announced the Plastic Pollution Control Program for 2023–2025. Although this program is similar to the …
South Korea
On February 27, 2023, South Korea Ministry of Environment announced that five proposed amendments to environmental laws including the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources passed …
*Hong Kong
Hong Kong plans to tighten EPR rules.
Australia
Plastic management rules are becoming more stringent in Australia.
Sri Lanka
On February 13, 2023, the Office of the Cabinet of Ministers of Sri Lanka issued a Cabinet decision banning the import, manufacture, sale, and use of certain single-use plastic products …
*Taiwan
On February 16, 2023, the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan of Taiwan officially announced the notice “Regulated businesses and requirements for restrictions on packaging used in internet shopping”, which will …
South Korea
On January 31, 2023, South Korea Ministry of Environment announced a key promotion plan in the field of resource recycling for the year 2023. Starting with the promulgation of the …
*Taiwan
On December 27, 2022, the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan of Taiwan released the proposed amendment of the notice “The range of articles, their packaging/containers, and operators responsible for recycling, …
China
On Dec. 30, 2022, the China Resource Recycling Association published an association standard called the Technical Specification for Pollution Control of Waste Packing Containers Recover and Disposal (T/ZGZS 0303-2022), which …
Philippines
In a press release dated January 24, 2023, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines announced that DENR issued Administrative Order No. 2023-2: Implementing Rules and …
New Zealand
On December 12, 2022, New Zealand’s (NZ) Ministry for the Environment released a summary of difficult-to-recycle plastic containers and packaging that should be phased out by mid-2025. This is the …
India
India’s national auditors, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in a report titled “All India Audit Report on Waste Management” published on December 21, 2022 states that a performance audit revealed …
Thailand
Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced “Notification of the Pollution Control Department on the Characteristics of Plastic Scraps Suitable for Recycling B.E.2565 (2022)” in the Royal …
Malaysia
The Food Grade Certification Guidelines were released in Malaysia on June 21, 2022. These guidelines set out the requirements and application procedures for food grade certification of food contact materials. …
China
On October 14, 2022, the State Post Bureau of China held the regular press conference of the fourth quarter of 2022. At the press conference, the implement progresses of “9917” …
South Korea
On September 4, 2022, South Korea Ministry of Environment announced the full operation of the EPR system in cooperation with the ease of recycling grading system. Under the EPR system, …
China
To protect the environment and reduce the use of plastic, on August 31, 2022, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government of China announced an amendment to the Article 5 (1) …
India
On September 14, 2022, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India published Notification No.32/2015-2020, which permits PET flakes to be imported subject to approval from the Directorate General of …
Indonesia
On April 4, 2022, the Indonesian National Standard SNI 7188-7:2022 on Ecolabeling Criteria for the Categories of Compostable Products, Product Packaging, and Bioplastic Containers (hereinafter “the Standard”) was promulgated in …
China
On July 29, 2022, the Department of Ecology and Environment of China’s Guangdong Province announced an action plan for 2022–2025 to take measures against plastic pollution. The plan aims to …
China
On July 11, 2022, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation released a revised version of the recommended national standard “Packaging Recycling Marking” (GB/T 18455-2022), which will come into effect on …
New Zealand
On March 14, 2022, New Zealand promulgated the Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 as a sub-rule of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. The purpose of the regulations …
Philippines
The Philippines enacted the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, Republic Act (RA) No. 11898 on July 23, 2022. This Act amends the country’s solid waste management act, RA9003, “Ecological …
India
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India published and enforced the Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022 on July 7, 2022. This amendment exempts labelling requirements …
South Korea
On June 24, 2022, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) of South Korea announced an amendment to the “Guidelines on Separate Discharge Mark” (MOE Notification No. 2022-361). This amendment stipulates …
Singapore
On June 5, 2022, the National Action Strategy on Marine Litter (NASML) was announced in Singapore. Marine litter is a cross-border problem that moves by wind and tidal currents, and …
Global
On June 21, 2022, the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) hosted the webinar “Green Talks LIVE: Global Plastics Outlook – Policy Scenarios to 2060“. The webinar featured two …
Vietnam
On June 3, 2022, the Legislation Department of Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) held an event titled “Seminar to Exchange Opinions on the Draft Circular on the …
China
On June 1, 2022, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation issued on its website implementation rules for spot checks of 15 types of products, including toys, hazardous chemical packaging, electric …
Philippines
NOTE: On July 22, 2022, the Philippines enacted the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, Republic Act (RA) No. 11898, which requires enterprises (producers of products generating plastic packaging waste with …
China
On May 31, 2022, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued a National Ecological and Environmental Standard on Technical Specification for Pollution Control of Plastic Waste (HJ 364-2022), which came …
China
China’s Hainan province April 27 announced a plastic pollution control action plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025). With the aim of tackling plastic pollution in earnest, the province …
South Korea
On May 3, 2022, South Korea Ministry of Environment published a revised version of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources (Presidential …
*Taiwan
On April 29, 2022, the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan of Taiwan announced the “Restrictions on the manufacture, import and sale of polyvinyl chloride-contained packaging materials, containers required to be …
Singapore
On March 7, 2022, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) announced that the country will begin charging for disposable carrier bags in supermarkets from mid-2023. Large supermarkets with annual sales of …
Indonesia
“Mayor’s Regulation No. 16 of 2022 on the Reduction of the Use of Plastic Bags” was promulgated on March 9, 2022 in Surabaya, the capital of East Java, Indonesia. The …
China
On March 18, the Municipal Administration for Market Regulation of Haikou city, Hainan province, China released information on 10 law enforcement actions against violations of plastic product regulations. According to the …
New Zealand
On March 24, 2022, the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment (MfE) released a position statement on compostable products as part of its National Plastics Action Plan. MfE states that …
India
On February 17, 2022, the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 which provides details on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for …
*Taiwan
On April 1, 2022, the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan of Taiwan released the revised version of Green Mark standard “Products Made from Recycled Plastic or Rubber”. The name of …
Thailand
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand bans single-use plastics from national parks for the conservation of natural resources. The …
Global
The resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) which took place from February 28 to March 2, 2022, adopted a resolution to end plastic pollution and to …
Malaysia
In December 2021, the Malaysia Plastic Sustainability Roadmap, 2021–2030 (hereinafter “the Roadmap”) was published in Malaysia. The Roadmap identifies strategies and concrete action plans for achieving plastic circularity within the …
Bangladesh
The Solid Waste Management Regulations 2021 were published in Bangladesh on December 23, 2021, under the Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act, 1995.
China
On Dec. 27, 2021, the Shandong Quality Inspection Association of China’s Shandong Province released a set of standards called the “Technical specification for eco-degradable plastic resins and products” (T/SDAQI 048-2021), …
China
The standards’ product evaluation system uses two layers of attributes that are called “Class I indicators” and “Class II indicators”, respectively. The Class I indicators consists of the resources, energy, …
India
On January 20, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India released the draft “Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022,” and is soliciting opinions for 60 days. The …
Vietnam
On January 10, 2022, the Vietnamese government established the Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP Detailing a Number of Articles of Law on Environmental Protection 2020 (hereinafter “the Decree”), which came into effect …
Vietnam
On January 10, 2022, the Vietnamese government established and enacted the Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP Detailing a Number of Articles of the Law on Environmental Protection (hereinafter the “the Decree”). Articles …
Vietnam
On January 10, 2022, the Vietnamese government established the Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP Detailing a Number of Articles of Law on Environmental Protection 2020 (hereinafter “the Decree”), which came into effect …
Philippines
NOTE: On July 22, 2022, the Philippines enacted the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, Republic Act (RA) No. 11898, which requires enterprises (producers of products generating plastic packaging waste with …
China
On December 31, 2021, the Tianjin Ecology and Environment Bureau and Tianjin Development and Reform Commission jointly released the “Action plan for plastic pollution control in the ‘14th five-year plan’ …
China
On November 26, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation released recommended national standards called the “Biodegradable drinking straws” (GB/T 41008-2021). These standards will come into effect on June 1, 2022. …
China
On November 26, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation released recommended national standards called the “Degradability and identification requirements of biodegradable plastics and products” (GB/T 41010-2021). These standards will come …
*Taiwan
Taiwan’s environmental protection administration noticed a period of public comments for drafting “Restriction on the Production, Importation and Sales of Plate Packaging Material Containing Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Designated Recyclable Containers …
China
On September 30, 2021, Department of Ecology and Environment of Hainan Province, China issued a notice on strengthening the management of electronic code of whole biodegradable plastic products. The purpose …
India
On October 7, 2021, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change issued a draft notification, setting out rules for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging, and has been …
China
China’s National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Ecology and Environment on September 16 jointly released the Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (the “Plan”) that will be implemented during …
China
China’s Hainan Province on August 16 released the second version of the List of Non-biodegradable, Single-use Plastic Products Banned for Production, Sale and Use in Hainan Province (the “List”) to …
China
China’s Ministry of Commerce on July 16 published a draft of the Measures on the Use and Reporting of Single-use Plastic Products (一次性塑料制品使用、报告管理办法) to solicit comments (it was open for …
Singapore
NOTE: On May 31, 2022, Singapore officially published the Environmental Protection and Management Act 1999 (Amendment of Second Schedule) Order 2022 to regulate the five substances. See more details below: …
India
On August 12, 2021, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change published the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021. This rule, for which amendments were proposed in March 2021, …
Japan
On August 23, 2021, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) of Japan held a meeting of the Subcommittee on Plastic Resource Circulation (a committee established under the Working Group for …
Vietnam
On June 8, 2021, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam issued the Decision No.1500/QD-BKHCN on the promulgation of National Standard TCVN 13334:2021. This standard, which the Department of …
Philippines, Plastic Pollution Issues
Philippines
NOTE: On July 22, 2022, the Philippines enacted the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, Republic Act (RA) No. 11898, which requires enterprises (producers of products generating plastic packaging waste with …
Thailand
The Pollution Control Department (PCD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand established a “Notification of Pollution Control Department regarding the Definitions of Plastic Wastes and Plastic Scraps B.E. …
Indonesia
On June 28, 2021, the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MOEF) announced the implementation status of the “Regulations of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 75 of 2019 …
*Hong Kong
On July 9, 2021, Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department released a draft on “Disposable plastic tableware regulation plan” and opened for public comment. The comment period will end on September …
China (1,150) South Korea (353) *Taiwan (259) Japan (113) *Hong Kong (27) Vietnam (389) Thailand (243) Philippines (182) Singapore (152) Malaysia (142) Indonesia (131)
Laos (15)
Brunei (8)
Myanmar (8)
Cambodia (2)
Saudi Arabia (6)
Oman (2) Australia (79) New Zealand (29)
