G/TBT/N/SYC/1  
 
17 February 2016  
(16-0990)  Page: 1/2  
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: 
Department of Environment 
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change 
Botanical Garden P.O. Box 445 
Mont Fleuri 
Mahe  Republic of Seychelles Tel: +2484670500 
Fax: +2484610648 
Name and address (including telephon e 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 The Blue Economy 
P.O. Box 313, Liberty House 
Victoria Tel: +248 4382056 Email: enquirywto@finance.gov.sc   
website: http://www.seychellest radeportal.gov.sc   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ ], 2.10 .1 [X], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other: 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable): Vest type plastic bags 
(3923.2120); Vest type plastic bags (3923.2920). Articles for the conveyance or packing of 
goods, of plastics; stoppers, lids, caps and other closures, of plastics (HS: 3923) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Environment 
Protection Act. (Act 9 of 1994) Environment Protection (Restriction on Plastic Bags) (Amendment) Regulations, 2015 (1 page, in English). 
6. Description of content: The regulation is an amendment of the Statutory Instrument 
(S.I) 39 of 2008. The Environment Protection (Restrictions on Plastic Bags) Regulations 2008, is hereby amended by repealin g in regulation 3(1), the figure "30" and 
substituting therefore the figure "50".  
The manufacture, trade and commercial distribution of domestically produced and 
imported plastic below 50 microns, for use within the Republic of Seychelles, are hereby 
restricted. G/TBT/N/SYC/1 
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: In its efforts to promote a clean environment, the department of environment 
within the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change joined the campaign to 
phase out lightweight plastic bags in the Seychelles. However, due to the common use and 
dependency on plastic bags to carry goods by the Seychellois people, the environment department saw the need to gradually phase out the use of plastic bag in various stages. 
As an immediate measure, the environment department amended its Environment 
Protection (Restrictions on Plastic Bags) Regulations 2008, by increasing the micron limit of plastic bags used in the Seychelles from 30 microns to 50 microns, which is in line with 
the European Union standards. This is aimed at deterring the general use of light weight 
plastic bags in the country and to eventually mi nimize the accessibility of such plastic bags 
in the country. The department is now looking for various alternatives for lightweight plastic bags, for example, biodegradable plastic bags and promotes the use of other local 
alternatives.  
Protection of the environment. 
8. Relevant documents: Supplement to Official Gazette, page 341-S.I.50 of 2015, 
Environment Protection Act (Act 9 of 1994) "Environment Protection (Restriction on Plastic Bags) (Amendment) Regulation, 2015, published on 14th October 2015. 
9. Proposed date of adoption: 6 October 2015  
Proposed date of entry into force: 6 October 2015 
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from notification 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body: