The mandate, issued in September 2022, prohibits the import of plastic bags by companies, businesses, and individuals in Oman and is set to be enforced starting from September 1, 2024. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) announced the implementation of Ministerial Decision No. (519/2022) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Customs. This decision addresses the environmental impact of plastic waste by banning a wide range of plastic bags classified under specific Harmonized System (HS) codes, including those made from ethylene polymers.

The ban covers both biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable plastics such as shopping bags, waste bags, food packaging bags, and medical bags made from ethylene polymers are included in the prohibition. Similarly, non-biodegradable plastic items, such as shopping bags, waste bags, food packaging bags, and medical bags made from the same material, are also prohibited.

This move by the Ministry is a significant stride towards curbing plastic pollution and promoting environmental sustainability in Oman. It aligns with the Environmental Authority's commitment to eliminating plastic waste and strengthening environmental protection measures, including the gradual phasing out of all plastic shopping bags in the country. Furthermore, this decision is in line with the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Law (Royal Decree No. 106/2020), the establishment of the Environment Authority (Ministerial Decision 2020/23), and the ban on single-use plastic shopping bags (Ministerial Decision 2020/23).