India
India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC) has published the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024 on March 14, 2024, amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, …
*Taiwan
On March 14, 2024, the Resource Circulation Administration, the Ministry of Environment of Taiwan published the emended notice “Work points for promoting the using of non-food containers made from recycled …
South Korea
On January 24, 2024, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of South Korea announced that, in accordance with the full revision of the pre-existing Framework Act on Resources Circulation into the …
South Korea
On December 15, 2023, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of South Korea announced that it has formulated a draft amendment to the Evaluation Criteria for Grading the Recyclability of Packaging …
South Korea
From December 12, 2023 to January 2, 2024, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea issued a preliminary legislative notice on the Standards and Methods for Labeling of Use Ratio …
India
India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has promulgated a notification on January 15, 2024, to call for producers, importers, and brand owners in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging …
South Korea
The Ministry of Environment of South Korea issued a legislative notice of amendment to the Notice on the Long-Term Recycling Target Rates for Products and Packaging Materials for FY2027. It …
Vietnam
On December 1, 2023, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vietnam, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), held …
Singapore
In 2023, an EnviX researcher visited the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) and met with several officials in charge of container and packaging material regulation and WEEE regulation. In Singapore, …
South Korea
On November 7, 2023, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea announced that it has formulated draft amendments to the Enforcement Order and Enforcement Rules of the Act on the …
Indonesia
A draft amendment to the Food Packaging Regulation (the “Draft”) was released in Indonesia on December 19, 2023. When promulgated and implemented, the Draft will replace the current Food and …
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 …
Vietnam
On October 20, 2023, the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) published the Draft Decree Amending and Supplementing Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP Detailing a Number of Articles of the …
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 …
China
On Sept. 7, 2023, China’s Standardization Administration published a recommended national standard called the Guideline of Environmentally Conscious Design for Electrical Accessories (GB/T 24976-2023). This standard combines eight existing national …
Thailand
The Ministry of Public Health has issued a notification, enacted under Cosmetics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), Notification if the Ministry of Public Health, Re: Prescribe Types of Cosmetics, Criteria, Methods …
*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, …
*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 …
China
On August 31, 2023, the State Administration for Market Regulation of China published Q&As on the mandatory national standard “Requirements for overpackaging—Foods and cosmetics” (GB 23350-2021), which will be effective …
Philippines
The Philippine Extended Producer Responsibility Act, or EPR Act, of 2022 has lapsed into law on July 23, 2022. This law requires large-scale companies to establish programs and strategies on …
Pakistan
Pakistan government are strengthening regulations on plastic products an packaging.
Pakistan
Plastics regulations are being significantly tightened in Punjab province in Pakistan.
Singapore
As confirmed on June 2, 2023, the technical reference document “TR109: 2023 Sustainable packaging guiding framework and practices” was issued in Singapore. This document provides companies with guidance and best …
Australia
On June 9, 2023, the Australian Environment Ministers’ Meeting (EMM) was held in Sydney, and it was agreed that a number of actions need to be taken to achieve a …
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, …
Singapore
In Singapore, the Resource Sustainability (Prescribed Regulated Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 were promulgated on May 25, 2023. These regulations amend the “Resource Sustainability (Prescribed Regulated Products) Regulations 2019” for products …
*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 …
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 …
South Korea
The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) conducted a survey on the current situation of recyclability grading of cosmetic containers, which are required to be undergone under the Packaging Recyclability Grading System. …
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 …
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 …
Singapore
On March 21, 2023, the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) announced details about the beverage container deposit scheme. The scheme will commence on April 1, 2025, and the deposit amount …
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 …
Australia
Plastic management rules are becoming more stringent in Australia.
Singapore
In Singapore, the Resource Sustainability (Amendment) Bill was submitted to Parliament on February 6, 2023. This bill amends the Resource Sustainability Act 2019 that regulates three types of waste: e-waste, …
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 …
*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 …
Philippines
In the Philippines, the FDA published a new regulation to secure the safety of food contact materials.
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 …
Vietnam
On December 22, 2022, the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) held a seminar in Hanoi to propose the Recycling Cost Constant (Fs) for products and packaging materials …
Singapore
Singapore reported the Resource Sustainability (Amendment) Bill to the WTO/TBT on November 23, 2022. Singapore plans to launch a beverage container deposit system from mid-2024 as the first step in …
South Korea
On November 4, 2022, the Korean Ministry of Environment announced a proposed amendment to the “Labeling Standards for Quality and Structure Grade of Packaging Materials”, and announced that it plans …
Vietnam
On November 16, 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) together with TCP Vietnam, TCPVN announced that they agreed to implement a project titled “TCP moving toward circular …
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” …
Singapore
On September 20, 2022, the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) announced details of its beverage container deposit system, which has been under consideration since 2020, and launched a public consultation. …
*Taiwan
On Sept. 29, 2022, Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration released draft regulations on packaging used in online shopping to seek public comments, which are accepted for 60 days after the draft’s …
China
On Sept. 1, 2022, the General Office of China’s State Council announced a series of measures to restrict excessive packaging of goods. The measures include targets for 2025 as well …
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
On Aug. 25, 2022, the China National Export Commodities Packaging Research Institute released an article explaining China’s national standard called Packaging Recycling Marking (GB/T 18455-2022). Here are its most notable …
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 …
Singapore
On Aug. 2, 2022, the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) released a report on the current situation and consumers’ attitudes regarding packaging waste. The report, which is titled “Unlocking Opportunities for …
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 …
Thailand
Thailand Ministry of Public Health published “Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 435) B.E. 2565 (2022) Issued under the Food Act, B.E. 2522 (1979) on Determination of Quality …
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 …
*Hong Kong
On June 8, 2022, the Hong Kong Government announced that the legislative process for making subsidiary legislation aiming at enhancing the Plastic Shopping Bag (PSB) Charging Scheme and full implementation …
*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 …
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 …
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 …
South Korea
On February 28, 2022, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea enacted a revised version of the Evaluation Criteria for Grading the Ease of Recycling of Packaging Materials (Ministry of …
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 …
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 …
*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 …
Singapore
On September 13, 2021, the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore issued the Mandatory Packaging Reporting – Guide on Assessing if a Company is Required to Comply with the Regulation. …
China
On October 22, the Beijing Alliance of Technological Innovation in Compulsory Resources Recycling Industry released a set of standards called Recycling Label for Beverage Carton Package, which was effective immediately. …
China
China’s State Council on October 10 released a general plan for standards development across all economic sectors. It defines policies, targets and main challenges of standards development for the next …
Malaysia
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri on September 27, 2021, announced the latest national five-year plan, the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (hereinafter “the Plan”). The Plan focuses on three main themes: (1) …
Vietnam
On August 27, 2021, the Legislation Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) held an online public consultation: Webinar: Hearing Opinions on the Extended Producer Responsibility …
Vietnam
On August 27, 2021, the Legislation Department of Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) held an online public consultation: Webinar: Hearing Opinions on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) …
Vietnam
On September 22, 2021, the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) released an official statement over some incorrect media coverage regarding the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. According …
Thailand
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of Public Health of Thailand opened a “(Draft) Criteria, Conditions, and Guidelines for Evaluating the Recycled Plastic Processing and Recycled Plastic Pellets Safety for …
China
On August 10, 2021, the State Administration for Market Regulation of China released a compulsory national standard – “Requirements of restricting excessive package -Foods and cosmetics” (GB 23350-2021). The standard, …
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 …
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 …
China (1,152) South Korea (353) *Taiwan (259) Japan (113) *Hong Kong (27) Vietnam (389) Thailand (243) Philippines (182) Singapore (152) Malaysia (143) Indonesia (131)
Laos (15)
Brunei (8)
Myanmar (8)
Cambodia (2)
Saudi Arabia (6)
Oman (2) Australia (79) New Zealand (29)
