G/TBT/N/MUS/6  
 
21 January 2016  
(16-0429)  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: MAURITIUS 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  
2. Agency responsible: 
Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Disaster and Beach Management  
Ken Lee Tower 
Cnr. St. George & Barracks Streets 
Port Louis  
Mauritius  
Tel: +230 203 6200 Fax: +230 212 6671 Email: menv@govmu.org   
Website : http://environment.govmu.org  
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 : 
TBT & SPS notification Authority International Trade Division 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade 
Fax: +230 210 8145 E-mail: motas@intnet.mu ; vidan_2@yahoo.com   
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): National Tariff 
Heading: 3923, HS Code: 4202.921 (for non-woven polypropylene bags) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Environment 
Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (7 pages, in English)  
6. Description of content: The Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) 
(Amendment) Regulations 2015 bans the import, manufacture, sale or supply of a plastic bag, with or without handles or gussets, and irrespective of their size or type. The 
regulations specifically target plastic bags designed to carry goods purchased at a point of 
sale such as a wholesale or retail outlet, a market, a fair and a hawker.  
Plastic bags meant for essential uses have been exempted from the ban and these also 
include biodegradable and compostable plastic bags. However, the import or manufacture of 
biodegradable and compostable plastic bags has to be in conformity with standards 
prescribed in the Third Schedule of the Regulations. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Protection of the environment  
 G/TBT/N/MUS/6 
 
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  8. Relevant documents: 
http://environment.govmu.org/English/Docu ments/Environment%20Protection%20%20Ba
nning%20of%20Plastic%20Bags%20Amended%20Regulations%202015.pdf  
9. Proposed date of adoption: 4 December 2015 
Proposed date of entry into force: 1 January 2016 
10. Final date for comments: –  
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:  
Mauritius Standards Bureau (TBT Enquiry point) 
Tel: +230 433 8164 
Fax: +230 433 5051 Email: msb@intnet.mu ; kdrajcoomar@msb.intnet.mu   
TBT & SPS notification Authority 
International Trade Division 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional  Integration and International Trade 
E-mail: motas@intnet.mu ; vidan_2@yahoo.com   
Fax: +230 210 8145 
Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Disaster and Beach Management  
Ken Lee Tower 
Cnr. St. George & Barracks Streets 
Port Louis  Mauritius  Tel: +230 203 6200 
Fax: +230 212 6671 
Email: menv@govmu.org   
Website: http://environment.govmu.org   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachm ents/2016/TBT/MUS/16_0092_00_f.pdf