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A release reminding the public that single-use plastic products are no longer allowed in the country was issued by the Government of Belize this morning.

The release stated the importation, manufacture, sale and possession of restricted and prohibited products is no longer permitted.

Importation of Prohibited Plastic Products No Longer Permitted

This notice serves as a reminder to all importers, customs brokers, and members of the general public that the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020, came into force on January 15th, 2020. This legislation regulates the importation, manufacture, sale and possession of Restricted and Prohibited Products listed in the Schedules of the Regulations.

Kindly be advised that there has been no adjustment to the date prohibiting the importation of products listed in Schedule II of the Regulations, which is April 15, 2020, and is now passed. Therefore, the importation of prohibited products is no longer permitted. Any official releases regarding timelines will be informed via the Government of Belize Press Office.

The timeline for the prohibition of listed products is as follows:
(a) the importation of products listed in Schedule II three (3) months after the enactment date of this legislation;
(b) the manufacture of products listed in Schedule II six (6) months after the enactment date of this legislation;
(c) the sale of products listed in Schedule II nine (9) months after the enactment date of this legislation; and
(d) the possession of products listed in Schedule II twelve (12) months after the enactment date of this legislation.

The list of single-use plastic products to be prohibited as per Schedule II of the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020, is as follows:

• Single-use styrofoam and plastic "clamshells"
• Single-use styrofoam and plastic plates, bowls, and cups and lids
• Single-use plastic forks, knives, spoons, sporks, and cutlery
• Single-use plastic carrier bags commonly referred to as shopping bags and/or T-shirt bags
• Single-use plastic drinking straws

You can also visit the DOE website and follow our social media accounts to remain informed.

For further information, please contact:

Chief Environmental Officer
Department of the Environment, Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries & Sustainable Development Market Square, Belmopan
Tel: 822-2548/2819 Fax: 822-2860
Email: envirodept@btl.net or envirodept@environment.gov.bz
Website: www.doe.gov.bz

Approval for Extension of Time Frame to Implement the Pollution from Plastics Regulations

The Department of the Environment (DOE) has received Cabinet's endorsement for the extension of the timeframe for the implementation of Regulation 33 (1) (b), (c) and (d) of the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020.

Due to preparations to address the COVID-I9 pandemic in March 2020, and subsequent National State of Emergency to address the health crisis caused by COVID- I 9 in April 2020, actions to implement the permitting and licensing systems required in the legislation was disrupted. As such, a transitional extension period is required to implement the above-mentioned sections (b), (c), and (d) of the Regulations.

The new 6-month extension dates will be as follow:



Kindly be advised that there has been no adjustment to the date prohibiting the importation of products listed in Schedule II of the Regulations, which is April 15, 2020, and is now passed. Therefore, the importation of prohibited products is no longer permitted.

Once signed, the amended Regulations will be made available and posted on DOE's website.