Belmopan. July 14, 2020.
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-19 pandemic in March 2020, and subsequent National State of Emergency to address the health crisis caused by COVID-19 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:
| Regulation 33 (1) | Activity | Old Date | New Date |
|
(a) |
Cease Importation of Prohibited Products | April 15, 2020 | No change |
|
(b) |
Cease Manufacturing of Prohibited Products | July 15, 2020 | January 15, 2021 |
|
(c) |
Cease Sale of Prohibited Products | October 14, 2020 | April 15, 2021 |
|
(d) |
Possession of Prohibited Products | January 14, 2021 | July 14, 2021 |
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.
For further information, please contact:
Chief Environmental Officer
Department of the Environment, Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment & 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
END
NOTE TO EDITORS:
The list of single-use plastic products 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
