G/TBT/N/SYC/3  
 
7 February 2017  
(17-0713) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original : English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member : SEYCHELLES  
If applicable, name of local government involved  (Article 3.2 and 7.2) : 
2. Agency responsible:  
Environment Department  
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change  
Botanical Gardens  
P.O. Box 445  
Mont Fleuri  
Mahe  
Republic of Seychelles  
Tel: +2484670500  
Fax: +2484610648  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification  shall be indicated if different from above : 
Trade Division  
Ministry of Finance, Trade and Economic Planning  
P.O. Box 313, Liberty House  
Victoria  
Tel: +248 4382056  
Email : enquirywto@finance.gov.sc   
Website : http://www.seychellestradeportal.gov.sc   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other : 
4. Products c overed (HS: or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  
 392321: - Of polymers of ethylene  
 392329: - Of other plastics : – Plastic carrier bags  
 392410:  
 Tableware and kitchenware  
 Plastic cups  
 Plastic plates  
 Plastic spoons  
 Plastic forks  
 Plastic knives  
 Plastic bowls  
 Plastic trays  
 392310: - Boxes, cases, crates and similar articles : 
 Polystyrene takeaway boxes  
 Boxes, cases, crates and similar articles ( HS: 392310),  – Of polymers of ethylene 
(HS: 392321), - Of other plastics ( HS: 392329),  – Tableware and kitchenware 
(HS: 392410)  G/TBT/N/SYC/3  
 
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  5. Title, number of pages  and language(s)  of the notified document:  
 S.I.... of 2017  – Environment Protection Act, 2016 (Act 18 of 2016)  – Environment 
Protection (Rest riction on manufacturing, importation and distribution of Plastic 
Bags) regulations 2017 (5 pages, in English)  
 S.I.... of 2017  – Environment protection Act, 2016 (Act 18 of 2016)  – Environment 
Protection (Restriction on Importation, distribution and sale o f Plastic utensils and 
Polystyrene Boxes) Regulations 2017 (4 pages, in English)  
6. Description of content: The Environment Protection (Restriction of Plastic Bags) 
Regulations : This set of regulations will restrict the importation of certain types of pla stic 
bags into the Seychelles. The only plastic bags that will be allowed entry are the plastic 
bags featured on the exemption list, found in the First Schedule of the above mentioned 
regulations. The content of the exemption list will be reviewed periodic ally. Import permits 
will be approved for the importation of biodegradable bags and exempted plastic bags 
only. These biodegradable bags will have to be accompanied by a certificate of conformity 
to the applicable standards provided for in the Second Sched ule of the regulations. 
Validation of the certificate of conformity will be undertaken by the Seychelles Bureau of 
Standards. Any person who contravenes these regulations will be liable to a fine not 
exceeding SR 20,000 upon conviction. This set of regulat ion will repeal the Environment 
Protection (Restrictions on Plastic Bags) Regulations 2008.  
The Environment Protection (Restriction of Plastic Utensils and Polystyrene Boxes) 
Regulations : This set of regulations will restrict the importation of plastic ute nsils (namely 
plastic spoon, knives, plates, bowls, cups and trays) and polystyrene takeaway boxes. As 
alternatives to these plastic utensils and polystyrene takeaway boxes importers can import 
biodegradable utensils and biodegradable takeaway boxes for di stribution and use within 
the Seychelles. These biodegradable utensils and take away boxes will have to be 
accompanied by a certificate of conformity to the applicable standards provided for in the 
First Schedule of the regulations. Validation of the certi ficate of conformity will be 
undertaken by the Seychelles Bureau of Standards. Any person who contravenes these 
regulations will be liable to a fine not exceeding SR 20,000 upon conviction.  
7. Objective and rationale , including the nature of urgent proble ms where 
applicable : The objective of the two technical regulations is to restrict the importation and 
use of plastic carrier bags, utensils and polystyrene takeaway boxes in the Seychelles. 
After having accepted the fact that Seychelles faces a major soli d waste and management 
problem. The Ministry responsible for environment felt the need to take some important 
decisions in order to limit the types of waste that is being deposited on its landfills. Waste 
being generated in the Seychelles has increased sig nificantly and most of these wastes are 
plastic based. In addition, the preliminary findings of a research undertaken in the 
Seychelles in June 2016, indicated that approximately 33% of all waste that enters the 
Providence Landfill, located on the main isl and of Mahe, consists of plastic carrier bags. 
These plastic carrier bags have been proven to affect wildlife and pollute the environment. 
Moreover, plastics take over 1000 years to disintegrate. It is to note that the Ministry 
responsible for environment has taken various steps to tackle the issue of plastic bags in 
the environment. In 2008, the said Ministry drafted the Environment Protection 
(Restrictions on Plastic Bags) Regulations 2008, with the aim of restricting plastic bags 
below 30 microns from en tering the Seychelles. This set of regulations was designed to 
discourage the use of flimsy plastic bags and promote the recycling and reuse of thicker 
plastic bags. This initiative was proven to be unsuccessful and led the Ministry to increase 
the micron limit for plastic bag importation from 30 to 50 in 2015. This again was not 
successful as more and more plastic bags were seen in the environment. Therefore the 
Ministry designed a plan to restrict the importation of certain plastic based items namely; 
plastic carrier bag, plastic utensils ( spoon, forks, knives, plates, bowls, cups and trays ) and 
polystyrene takeaway boxes. This plan comprises of;  
 The introduction of a policy to restrict the importation of the above mentioned 
plastic based items  
 The coming into force of 2 sets of regulations to restrict the importation of these 
plastic based items and introduce penalties for individuals who fails to comply with 
these regulations  G/TBT/N/SYC/3  
 
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  The periodical review of these regulations in order to restrict the importatio n of more 
plastic based items.  
Protection of the environment . 
8. Relevant documents : 
 S.I... of 2017  – Environment Protection Act, 2016 (Act 18 of 2016)  – Environment 
Protection (Restriction on manufacturing, importation and distribution of Plastic 
Bags) re gulations 2017.  
 S.I... of 2017  – Environment protection Act, 2016 (Act 18 of 2016)  – Environment 
Protection (Restriction on Importation, distribution and sale of Plastic utensils and 
Polystyrene Boxes) Regulations 2017.  
9. Proposed date of adoption : Augus t 2017  
Proposed date of entry into force : August 2017  
10. Final date for comments : 60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from : National enquiry point  [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
number s and e mail and website address es, if available , of othe r body:  
National Notification Authority  
Trade Division  
Ministry of Finance, Trade and Economic Planning  
P.O. Box 313, Liberty House  
Victoria  
Tel: +248 4382056  
Email : enquirywto@finance.gov.sc   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/TBT/SYC/17_0650_00_e.pdf   
https://members.wto.org/crnatta chments/2017/TBT/SYC/17_0650_01_e.pdf