Somalia Joins East African Countries in Banning Single-Use Plastics

In a stride towards environmental conservation, Somalia has become the latest African nation to enforce a ban on single-use plastics, marking a pivotal moment in the global campaign against non-biodegradable packaging materials. The announcement came through a decree issued by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change on Thursday, setting the ban into effect from June 30, 2024, while allowing a five-month grace period for importers and users to make necessary adjustments.

According to the ministry’s statement, the ban applies to all businesses involved in bag importation, manufacturers, retailers, and commercial establishments within the country. It unequivocally stated, “As of June 30, 2024, the importation and use of single-use bags shall be prohibited.”
The grace period has been strategically implemented to provide importers and manufacturers the opportunity to transition towards environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic bags.
Somalia government expressed its commitment to collaborate with stakeholders in identifying and implementing sustainable alternatives.
Somalia’s decision to prohibit single-use plastics aligns it with other East African Community (EAC) member states, namely Kenya and Rwanda, which have already implemented comprehensive bans on such materials.
Uganda and Tanzania, although having technically instituted bans, have encountered challenges in enforcing them, including issues related to smuggling across neighboring countries.
Effective June 30, 2024, the ban encompasses the production, importation, trading, and distribution of single-use plastics, mirroring the regulations in place in Kenya and Rwanda. Somalia’s Environment and Climate Change Minister, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, emphasized that the move is a proactive measure undertaken by the country to address environmental challenges at the local level.