President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, following recommendations from the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, hasamendedthe list of single-use plastics deemed detrimental to the environment.

Under the amendment, the ban on importing single-use plastic drinking straws classified under Item 1 of the list has been deferred from 1 June 2021 to 1 June 2031. The ban on production and selling these items in the Maldives has also been deferred from 19 December 2022 to 19 December 2031.

Additionally, for item 13 on the list, the effective date prohibiting the import and production of water packaged in plastic bottles sized 1 litre or less down to 500 ml has been deferred to 1 December 2029, whilst the prohibition on sale has been deferred to 1 June 2030.

The amendment also changes the plastic bottle size threshold under Item 14 from 500 millilitres to 250 millilitres. As a result, the import, production and sale of pre-packaged beverages, excluding water, in plastic bottles measuring less than 250 millilitres are prohibited with immediate effect.

The amendments were made through Presidential Decree No. 15/2026, published in the Government Gazette.