The Consumer Affairs Authority has issued a directive prohibiting traders from providing polythene shopping bags free of charge to consumers, effective 1st of November 2025.
According to a Gazette notification published on 1st of October bags made from Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) must be sold at a price, which should be clearly indicated on the customer’s bill. Traders are also required to display the price of these bags prominently at their business premises.
The directive defines these bags as any size of bags with handles used for carrying purchased goods, commonly known as “sili-sili bags.”
This measure is part of broader efforts to reduce the use of polythene and mitigate environmental damage caused by plastic pollution. The order, issued under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003, will be strictly enforced from 1st of November 2025.
