The Ministry of Industry and Commerce continues its efforts to ensure the implementation of Resolution No. (14) of 2022 regarding the prohibition of manufacturing, importing or using single-use plastic bags with a thickness of less than 35 microns, emerging from Ministry's efforts to support environment friendly initiatives, and complying to the government's program in securing an environment that supports sustainable development, in order to achieve Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 in protecting natural spaces and wildlife and reducing environmental pollution and the spread of plastic waste.

The Ministry continues its comprehensive inspection campaigns on shops and points of sale that use plastic bags in the Kingdom, to ensure the commitment of local markets to the legal ban, and to ensure full compliance with standards to guarantee safety and quality, at the same time ensuring that this does not have a negative affect on consumer or manufacturers.

The inspection campaigns showcased the high level of commitment to the decision, as 551 samples were withdrawn for testing from 502 shops, and results showed that 83% of the withdrawn samples conform to the requirements, while 17% of the samples were found to be in violation of the requirements, and necessary legal measures were taken regarding violators, noting that some types of single-use plastic bags with a thickness of less than 35 microns, that are used for medical purposes and for international export and garbage collection are excluded from the ban.

This campaign aims to ensure that plastic bags traded in local markets conform to the ministerial decision, while monitoring and correcting violations.

Notably, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued Resolution No. (14) of 2022 regarding the prohibition of manufacturing, importing or trading single-use plastic bags with a thickness of less than 35 microns, which was implemented on September 18, 2022.