B 1772
L.N. 237 of 2022
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT
(CAP. 549)
Single-Use Plastic Framework Regulations, 2022
IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by articles 54 and 55 of
the Environment Protection Act, t he Minister responsible for th e
environment, after consultation with the Environment and Resour ces
Authority, has made the following regulations:-
Citation and 
commencement.1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Single-Use Plastic
Framework Regulations, 2022.
(2) Sub-regulations (5)  and (8) of regulation 4 shall come into
force on such a date as the Minister responsible for the enviro nment
may by notice in the Gazette establish. 
Scope.  2. (1) These regulations transpose Articles 2, 3, 4, 6(5), 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 17(3) of Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the
reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.
(2) These regulations provide  a framework for single-use
plastic products listed in Schedule 1, and for fishing gear con taining
plastic. 
S.L. 549.43.
S.L. 549.63.S.L. 549.141.(3) In the event that any provision of these regulations is in
conflict with the provisions of the Waste Management (Packaging  and
Packaging Waste) Regulations o r the Waste Regulations or the
Extended Producer Responsibility Framework Regulations, these
regulations shall prevail.
Interpretation. 3. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:
Cap. 549. "Act" means the Environment Protection Act;
S.L. 595.28."Agency" means Circular Ec onomy Malta established by
the Circular Economy Malta (Establishment) Order;
"Authority" or "competent authority" shall have the same
meaning as assigned to it in article 2 of the Act;
"biodegradable plastic" means a plastic capable of
undergoing physical and biological decomposition, such that it
ultimately decomposes into carbon dioxide (CO2), biomass and
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water, and is, in accordance with European Standards for
Packaging, recoverable thro ugh composting and anaerobic
digestion;
Cap. 409."catering establishment" shall have the same meaning as
assigned to it in article 2 of the Malta Travel and Tourism
Services Act, excluding nightclubs and discotheques;
S.L. 549.63."collection" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it
in regulation 4 of the Waste Regulations;
S.L. 549.141."extended producer responsibility Scheme" shall have the
same meaning as assigned to it in regulation 3 of the ExtendedProducer Responsibility Framework Regulations;
"fishing gear" means any item or  piece of equipment that is
used in fishing or aquaculture to  target, capture or rear marin e
biological resources or that is floating on the sea surface, an d is
deployed with the objective of a ttracting and capturing or of
rearing such marine biological resources;
"harmonised standard" shall have the same meaning as
assigned to it in point (1)(c) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No
1025/2012;
"making available on the market" means any supply of a
product for distribution, consumpt ion or use on the market of
Malta in the course of a commerci al activity, whether in return
for payment or free of charge;
"Minister" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in
article 2 of the Act;
S.L. 549.43."packaging" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it
in regulation 3 of the Waste Management (Packaging andPackaging Waste) Regulations;
"placing on the market" means the first making available of
a product on the market of Malta;
"plastic" means a material  consisting of a polymer as
defined in point 5 of Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 ,
to which additives or other substances may have been added, andwhich can function as a main st ructural component of final
products, with the exception of natural polymers that have notbeen chemically modified;
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S.L. 499.71."port reception facility" sh all have the same meaning as
assigned to it in sub-regulation (1) of regulation 3 of the Por t
Reception Facilities for the Delivery of Waste from Ships
Regulations;
"producer" means:
S.L. 378.17.(a) any natural or legal person established in Malta
that professionally manufactures, fills, sells or imports,
irrespective of the selling technique used, including bymeans of distance contracts as  defined in regulation 2 of the
Consumer Rights Regulations, and places on the market of
Malta single-use plastic products , filled single-use plastic
products or fishing gear containing plastic, other than
persons carrying out fishing ac tivities as defined in point
(28) of Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the
European Parliament and of the Council; or
S.L. 378.17.(b) any natural or legal person established in one
Member State or in a third c ountry that professionally sells
in Malta directly to private households or to users otherthan private households, by me ans of distance contracts as
defined in regulation 2 of the Consumer Rights
Regulations, single-use plastic products, filled single-useplastic products or fishing g ear containing plastic, other
than persons carrying out fishing activities as defined in
point (28) of Article 4 of R egulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
S.L. 549.141."producer responsibility organisation" shall have the same
meaning as assigned to it in regulation 3 of the ExtendedProducer Responsibility Framework Regulations;
S.L. 549.63."separate collection" shall have the same meaning as
assigned to it in regulation 4 of the Waste Regulations;
"single-use plastic product" means a product that is made
wholly or partly from plastic a nd that is not conceived, design ed
or placed on the market to accomplish, within its life span,
multiple trips or rotations by being returned to a producer forrefill or re-used for the same purpose for which it was conceived;
S.L. 315.10."tobacco products" shall have the same meaning as
assigned to it in regulation 2 of  the Manufacture, Presentation
and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products Regulations;
S.L. 549.63."treatment" shall have the sam e meaning as assigned to it in
regulation 4 of the Waste Regulations;
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S.L. 549.63."waste" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in
regulation 4 of the Was te Regulations;
S.L. 549.63."waste fishing gear" means a ny fishing gear covered by the
definition of "waste" in regulation 4 of the Waste Regulations,
including all separate components, substances or materials thatwere part of or attached to such fishing gear when it was
discarded, including when it was abandoned or lost.
Consumption 
reduction.4. (1) The Minister in consultation with the competent
authority and the Agency shall take the necessary measures to a chieve
an ambitious and sustained re duction in the consumption of the single-
use plastic products listed in Part A of Schedule 1, in line wi th the
overall objectives of the Union’s waste policy, in particular w aste
prevention, leading to a substantial reversal of increasing con sumption
trends. Those measures shall achieve a measurable quantitative
reduction in the consumption of t he single-use plastic products  listed
in Part A of Schedule 1 on the te rritory of Malta by the year 2 026
compared to the year 2022. 
(2) The Minister in consultation with the competent authority
and the Agency may include national consumption reduction targe ts,
measures ensuring that re-usable  alternatives to the single-use  plastic
products listed in Part A of Sc hedule 1 are made available at t he point
of sale to the final consumer, economic instruments such as
instruments ensuring that those single-use plastic products are  not
provided free of charge at the point of sale to the final consu mer. 
S.L. 549.43.(3) The Minister in consultation with the competent authority
and the Agency may impose market ing restrictions in derogation from
regulation 11 of the Waste Management (Packaging and PackagingWaste) Regulations for the pur poses of preventing such products  from
becoming litter in order to ensure that they are substituted wi th
alternatives that are re-usable or do not contain plastic. The measuresmay vary depending on the environmental impact of those single- use
plastic products over their life  cycle, including when they bec ome
litter. 
(4) Measures adopted pursuant to this regulation shall be
proportionate and non-discriminatory. 
(5) Without prejudice to the gen erality of sub-regulations (1)
and (2), single-use plastic products listed in Part A of Schedule 1 that
are provided empty or filled at t he point of sale shall not be provided
free of charge to final consum ers by catering establishments:
Provided that catering establ ishments shall properly inform
consumers of the fee charged on such single-use plastic products at the
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point of sale:
Provided further that the Minister shall by way of
publication in the Gazette presc ribe the fee applicable to such single-
use plastic products and the moda lities whereby consumers shall  b e
informed of such fees. The fee shall be charged to final consum ers
upon supply of such single-use pl astic products and shall be clearly
indicated in the related fiscal receipt.
(6) Without prejudice to existing Maltese, European Union and
international legislation, as  from 1 January 2023 catering
establishments shall provide an adequate number of reusable
alternatives to the single-use plastic products listed in Part A of
Schedule 1 at the point of sale as long as practic ally feasible :
Provided that catering establishments shall properly inform
consumers of the availability of  reusable alternatives and that  the fee
referred to in sub-regulation (5) does not apply to such reusab le
alternatives.
(7) As from 1 January 2023, cateri ng establishments shall offer
adequate incentives to consumer s who bring their own reusable
alternatives to the single-use plastic products listed in Part A of
Schedule 1 for take-away consumption of food or beverages:
Provided that catering establishments shall properly inform
consumers of such incentives.
(8) Without prejudice to any la wfully established safety
measures, the single-use plastic products listed in Part A of S chedule 1
shall not be provided empty or filled at the point of sale by anyrestaurant, cafeteria, bar, sn ack bar, lido and canteen, includ ing those
in schools, university campus, hos pitals or any government buil ding,
for any food or beverages consumed on such premises.
(9) The Minister after consultation with the competent
authority and the Agency shall prepare a description of the mea sures
adopted pursuant to sub-regulati on (1), notify the description to the
European Commission and make it publicly available. 
(10) The description of measures adopted pursuant to this
regulation shall form an integral part of and be consistent wit h the:
S.L. 549.62.(a) programme of measures  established pursuant to
regulation 10 of the Marine Policy Framework Regulations;
S.L. 549.100.(b) programme of measures  established pursuant to
regulation 12 of the Water Polic y Framework Regulations;
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S.L. 549.63.(c) waste management plans and waste prevention
programmes established pursuant to regulations 28 and 29 of the
Waste Regulations; and
S.L. 499.71.(d) waste reception and ha ndling plans established
pursuant to the Port Reception Facilities for the Delivery of
Waste from Ships Regulations,
upon the first subsequent update of  those plans or programmes i n
accordance with the relevant Malt ese legislation and European U nion
legislative acts governing those plans or programmes, or into a ny other
programmes drawn up specifically for that purpose.
(11) The competent authority and the Agency shall monitor the
single-use plastic products listed in Part A of Schedule 1 plac ed on the
market and the reduction measures taken on the basis of the com mon
methodology established in Commission Implementing Decision (EU )
2022/162 of 4 February 2022 laying down rules for the applicati on of
Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of theCouncil as regards the calculat ion, verification and reporting on the
reduction in the consumption of c ertain single-use plastic prod ucts and
the measures taken by Member Stat es to achieve such reduction. 
Product 
requirements.5. (1) From 1 January 2025, beverage bottles listed in Part
D of Schedule 1 placed on the market on the territory of Malta, which
are manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate as the majorcomponent (‘PET bottles’) shall c ontain at least twenty-five pe r cent
(25%) recycled plastic, calculat e d  a s  a n  a v e r a g e  f o r  a l l  P E T  b o ttles
placed on the market on the territory of Malta.
(2) From 1 January 2030, beverage bottles listed in Part D of
Schedule 1 placed on the market on the territory of Malta, shal l contain
at least thirty per cent (30%) r ecycled plastic, calculated as an average
for all such beverage bottles plac ed on the market on the terri tory of
Malta.
(3) Producers placing on the mark et beverage bottles listed in
Part D of Schedule 1 shall achieve the targets laid down in sub -
regulation (1) and (2), either individually or collectively. 
(4) In order to demonstrate the attainment of the targets laid
down in sub-regulations (1) and (2), for any given year producers shall
submit to the Authority information on the recycled content in the
beverage bottles placed on the market of Malta and whether suchtargets are being achieved indivi dually or collectively, within  four (4)
months of the closing of the year, according to the procedureestablished by the Authority:
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Provided that the first reference year for which the
information referred to in this sub-regulation shall be submitt ed to the
Authority is 2023: 
Provided further that any i nformation submitted to the
Authority shall be audited by an  independent auditor approved b y the
Authority. 
(5) An administrativ e penalty may be imposed by the
Authority upon the producer or producers if it results that in any given
year, a producer, whether individually or collectively, has fai led to
achieve the targets laid down in sub-regulations (1) and (2). S uch
penalty shall be calculated in accordance with the mechanism la id
down in Schedule 2. 
Marking 
requirements. 6. (1) Each single-use plastic product listed in Part B of
Schedule 1 placed on the market s hall bear a conspicuous, clearly
legible and indelible marking on its packaging or on the produc t itself
on the basis of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151
of 17 December 2020 laying down rules on harmonised markingspecifications on single-use pl astic products listed in Part D of the
Annex to Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and  of
the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic p roducts
on the environment, informing consumers of the following: 
S.L. 549.63.(a) appropriate waste management options for the
product or waste disposal means to be avoided for that product,
in line with the waste hierarchy laid down in regulation 4A of the
Waste Regulations; and 
(b) the presence of plastics in the product and the
resulting negative impact of l ittering or other inappropriate
means of waste disposal of the product on the environment.
S.L. 315.10.(2) The provisions of this regulation are in addition to any
other labelling and marking requirements for tobacco products
contained, inter alia , in the Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of
Tobacco and Related Products Regulations in relation to tobacco
products.
S.L. 549.140.(3) The placing on the market of the single-use plastic products
listed in Part B of Schedule 1 that do not comply with the requ irements
of this regulation shall be prohibited in accordance with the
Restrictions on Placing on the Mar ket of Single-Use Plastic Pro ducts
Regulations. 
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Extended 
producer 
responsibility for the single-
use plastic 
products listed in Section III of 
Part C of 
Schedule 1 and fishing gear.
S.L. 549.141.7. (1) The Minister in consultation with the competent
authority and the Agency shall establish extended producer
responsibility schemes for the s ingle-use plastic products list ed in
Section III of Part C of Schedul e 1 and fishing gear containing plastic
which are placed on the market of Malta, in accordance with theExtended Producer Responsibil ity Framework Regulations: 
Provided that such schemes shall be established by 5
January 2023 for the single-use p lastic products listed in Sect ion III of
Part C of Schedule 1 and by 31 December 2024 for fishing gear
containing plastic: 
Provided further that the fishermen themselves, but
excluding those fishermen who import fishing gear containing pl astic
directly, and artisanal makers of fishing gear containing plast ic shall
not be considered as producers and shall not be held responsible for
fulfilling the extended producer responsibility obligations und er this
regulation.
(2) The Minister in consultation with the competent authority
and the Agency shall ensure that  producers of single-use plasti c
products listed in Section III of Part C of Schedule 1 cover at  least the
following costs:
(a) the costs of awareness ra ising measures laid down in
regulation 12;
(b) the costs of cleaning up l itter resulting from those
products and the subsequent transport and treatment of that lit ter;
and
S.L. 549.141.(c) the costs of data g athering and reporting in
accordance with point (iii) of paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (3)
of regulation 6 of the Produc er Responsibility Framework
Regulations:
Provided that producers of single-use plastic products listed
in Section III of Part C of Schedule 1, shall also cover the co sts of
waste collection for those produc ts that are discarded in publi c
collection systems, including the  infrastructure and its operat ion, and
the subsequent transport and treat ment of that waste. The costs  m ay
include the setting up of specifi c infrastructure for the waste  collection
for those products, such as appropriate waste receptacles in commonlitter hotspots.
(3) (a) The costs to be covered referred to in sub-regulation
(2) shall not exceed the costs that are necessary to provide the servicesreferred to therein in a cost-ef ficient way and shall be establ ished in a
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transparent way between the actor s concerned. The costs of clea ning
up litter shall be limited to activities undertaken by public a uthorities
or on their behalf. Such activities shall be subject to prior a pproval of
the Authority.
(b) The calculation methodology shall be developed in a way
that allows for the costs of cle aning up litter to be establish ed in a
proportionate way. To minimise ad ministrative costs, the Minist er in
consultation with the competent authority and the Agency may
determine financial contributions  towards the costs of cleaning  u p
litter by setting appropriate multiannual  fixed amounts. 
(4) The Minister after consultation with the competent
authority and the Agency shall define in a clear way the roles and
responsibilities of all relevant actors involved. 
(5) Producers established in another Member State and placing
products on the market in Malta shall appoint a legal or natura l person
established in Malta as an authorised representative for the purposes offulfilling the obligations of a producer related to extended producer
responsibility schemes on the territory of Malta.
(6) Producers established in Mal ta who sell single-use plastic
products listed in Section III of  Part C of Schedule 1 and fish ing gear
containing plastic in another Member State in which he is not
established, shall appoint an authorised representative in that  o t h e r
Member State. The authorised representative shall be the person
responsible for fulfilling the obl igations of that producer pur suant to
these regulations on the territory of that other Member State.
(7) The Minister after consultation with the competent
authority and the Agency shall  set a national minimum annual
collection rate of waste fishing gear containing plastic for recycling.
(8) The competent authority shal l monitor and gather data on
fishing gear containing plastic placed on the market as well as  waste
fishing gear containing plastic collected.
S.L. 499.71.(9) (a) With regard to the extended producer responsibility
schemes established pursuant to sub-regulation (1), the Ministe r after
consultation with the competent a uthority and the Agency shall ensure
that the producers of fishing gear containing plastic cover the  costs of
the separate collection of was te fishing gear containing plasti c that has
been delivered to adequate por t reception facilities in accorda nce with
the Port Reception Facilities for the Delivery of Waste from Sh ips
Regulations or to other equivalent collection systems that fall outsidethe scope of those regulations and the costs of its subsequent transport
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and treatment. The producers shall also cover the costs of the
awareness raising measures referred to in regulation 12 regarding
fishing gear cont aining plastic. 
(b) The requirements laid down in this sub-regulation
supplement the requirements appl icable to waste from fishing ve ssels
in Maltese legislation and European Union legislation on portreception facilities.
(10) Without prejudice to th e objectives set out in this
regulation, the Minister after consultation with the competent authority
and the Agency may decide to achieve the objectives set for fis hing
gear containing plastic, by m eans of agreements between the
competent authority and the economic sectors concerned. Such
agreements shall meet the following requirements: 
(a) agreements shall be enforceable; 
(b) agreements shall specify objectives with the
corresponding deadlines; 
(c) agreements shall be published in the Gazette and
transmitted to the European Commission; 
(d) the results achieved under an agreement shall be
monitored regularly, reported  to the Authority and to the
Commission and made available to the public under the
conditions set out in the agreement;
(e) the Authority shall make  provisions to examine the
progress reached under an agreement; and 
(f) in case of non-compliance with an agreement the
Minister after consultation with the Authority and the Agency
shall implement the relevant pr ovisions of these regulations by
legislative, regulatory or administrative measures. 
Extended 
producer responsibility 
for the single-
use plastic products listed 
in Sections I and 
II of Part C of Schedule 1.
S.L. 549.43. 8. (1) Without prejudice to the Waste Management
(Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations, by 5th January 2023
producers of the single-use plastic products listed in Section I and
Section II of Part C of Schedule 1 shall, in order to fulfil th eir
obligations under these regulations, participate in a packaging  waste
recovery organisation authoris ed in accordance with the Waste
Management (Packaging and Packag ing Waste) Regulations, whether
or not such products are packagin g as defined in regulation 3.
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S.L. 549.141.
S.L. 549.43. (2) Without prejudice to sub-regul ation (3) of regulation 6 of
the Extended Producer Responsibilit y Framework Regulations, and  the
Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations, a
packaging waste recovery organisation authorised in accordance with
the Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulation s
acting on behalf of the producers referred in sub-regulation (1) shall,
insofar as not already included, cover the following costs pert aining to
the single-use plastic products  listed in Section I of Part C of Schedule
1:
(a) the awareness raising measures laid down in
regulation 12;
(b) the waste collection fo r those products that are
discarded in public collection systems, including infrastructur e
and its operation, and the subsequent transport and treatment o f
waste; and
(c) cleaning up litter resu lting from those products and
the subsequent transport and treatment of that litter:
Provided that the costs to be covered referred to in this sub-
regulation shall not exceed the costs that are necessary to pro vide the
services referred to therein in a cost-efficient way and shall be
established in a transparent way  between the actors concerned:
Provided further that the costs  of cleaning up litter shall be
limited to activitie s undertaken by public authorities or on th eir behalf.
Such activities shall be subject to prior approval of the Autho rity. The
calculation methodology shall be developed in a way that allows  for
the costs of cleaning up litter to be established in a proporti onate way.
To minimise administrative costs, the Minister after consultation with
the competent authority and the Agency may determine financial
contributions towards the costs o f cleaning up litter by settin g
appropriate multiannual fixed amounts.
S.L. 549.141.
S.L. 549.43.(3) Without prejudice to sub-regul ation (3) of regulation 6 of
the Extended Producer Responsibility Framework Regulations and the
Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations, a
packaging waste recovery organisation authorised in accordance with
the Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulation s
acting on behalf of the producers referred in sub-regulation (1) shall,
insofar as not already included, cover the following costs pert aining to
the single-use plastic products listed in Section II of Part C of
Schedule 1:
(a) the awareness raising measures laid down in
regulation 12;
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(b) cleaning up litter resulting from those products and
the subsequent transport and treatment of that litter;
S.L. 549.141.(c) data gathering and reporting in accordance with point
(iii) of paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (3) of regulation 6 of  the
Extended Producer Responsibility Framework Regulations:
Provided that the costs to be covered referred to in this sub-
regulation shall not exceed the c osts that are necessary to provide the
services referred to therein in a cost-efficient way and shall be
established in a transparent way between the actors concerned:
Provided further that the costs of cleaning up litter shall be
limited to activities undertaken  by public authorities or on th eir behalf.
Such activities shall be subject to prior approval of the Autho rity. The
calculation methodology shall be de veloped in a way that allows  for
the costs of cleaning up litter  to be established in a proporti onate way.
To minimise administrative costs, the Minister after consultation with
the competent authority and the Agency may determine financial
contributions towards the costs  of cleaning up litter by settin g
appropriate multia nnual fixed amounts.
S.L. 549.43.(4) Producers of the single-us e plastic products listed in
Sections I and II of Part C of Schedule 1, whether or not such products
are packaging as defined in regulation 3 shall register and report inaccordance with regulations 21 and 22 of the Waste Management
(Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations:
S.L. 549.43.Provided that in making u se of existing databases
established in regulation 9 of the Waste Management (Packaging and
Packaging Waste) Regulations, the competent authority shall ens ure
that such databases contain sepa rate entries for packaging and single-
use plastics covered by this regulation so as to ensure that da ta for
packaging and single-use plastics can be identified for the pur poses of
this regulation:
S.L. 549.43.Provided further that producer s, including those producers
which already hold a registrati on number in accordance with the  Waste
Management (Packaging and Packag ing Waste) Regulations, shall be
issued a unique registration number identifying them as produce rs of
either both packaging and single  use plastic products or as pro ducers
of single-use plastic products l isted in Sections I and II of P art C of
Schedule 1.
S.L. 549.43. (5) Without prejudice to the Wa ste Management (Packaging
and Packaging Waste) Regulati ons, a producer established in Mal ta,
who sells single-use plastic pr oducts listed in Sections I and II of Part
C of Schedule 1, whether or not such products are packaging as
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defined in regulation 3, in another Member State in which it is not
established, shall appoint an authorised representative in that  o t h e r
Member State. The authorised representative shall be the person
responsible for fulfilling the obl igations of that producer pur suant to
these regulations on the territory of that other Member State.
Authorisation to 
operate a producer 
responsibility 
organisation.S.L. 549.63.9. Without prejudice to the Waste Regulations, persons who
intend to operate a producer responsibility organisation specifically for
fulfilling the obligations impos ed by these regulations, on beh alf of
producers of single-use products l isted in Section III of Part C of
Schedule 1 and, or fishing gear c ontaining plastic, shall requi re and
obtain a valid authorisation from  the competent authority under  these
regulations in accordance with the Act. 
Charging of fees 
by the 
competent authority.10. The competent authority may charge producers such fees as
necessary to cover the costs of the administration of these reg ulations.
Separate 
collection.
S.L. 549.134.11. (1) Producers of the products lis ted in Part D of Schedule
1 shall comply with the Bevera ge Containers Recycling Regulatio ns in
order to ensure that the followi ng minimum separate collection for
recycling targets are attained:
(a) by 1st January 2025, an amount of waste single-use
plastic products listed in Part D of Schedule 1 equal to seventy-
seven per cent (77%) of such si ngle-use plastic products placed
on the market in a given year by weight; and
(b) by 1st January 2029, an amount of waste single-use
plastic products listed in Part D of Schedule 1 equal to ninety  per
cent (90%) of such single-use plastic products placed on the
market in a given year by weight:
Provided that single-use plastic products listed in Part
D of Schedule 1 placed on the market of Malta may be deemed tobe equal to the amount of waste generated from such products,
including as litter, in the same year in Malta:
S.L. 549.63.
S.L. 549.134.Provided further that such collection is without
prejudice to sub-regulation (3)(a) of regulation 10B of the Was te
Regulations and, or any other obligation under the Beverage
Containers Recycling Regulations.
(2) The methodology for the calcul ation and verification of the
separate collection targets laid  down in this regulation, as established
in Commission Implementing Deci sion (EU) 2021/1752 of 1 October
2021 laying down rules fo r the application of Directive (EU) 20 19/904
of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the
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calculation, verification and reporting of data on the separate
collection of waste single-use  plastic bevera ge bottles, shall apply.
Awareness 
raising.12. The Minister after consultation with the competent
authority and the Agency shall take measures to inform consumer s and
to incentivise responsible consumer behaviour, in order to redu ce litter
from products covered by these regulations, and sh all take meas ures to
inform consumers of the single- use plastic products listed in P art E of
Schedule 1 and users of fishing gear containing plastic about the
following: 
S.L. 549.63.(a) the availability of re-usable alternatives, re-use
systems and waste management  options for those single-use
plastic products and for fishing gear containing plastic as wel l as
best practices in sound waste management carried out in
accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Wast e
Regulations; 
(b) the impact on the environm ent, in particular on the
marine environment of littering and other inappropriate waste
disposal of those single-use plastic products and of fishing ge ar
containing plastic; and
(c) the impact on the sewage network of inappropriate
means of waste disposal of those single-use plastic products.
Specifications and guidelines 
on single-use 
plastic products.13. In order to determine whether a food container is to be
considered as a single-use plastic product for the purposes of these
regulations, in addition to the criteria listed in Schedule 1 a s regards
food containers, its tendency to become litter, due to its volu me or
size, in particular single-serve portions, shall play a decisiv e role:
Provided that food containers  with dried food or food that
is sold cold requiring further preparation, containers containi ng food in
more than single-serve portions o r single-serve portion-sized food
containers sold in more than one unit shall not be considered as single-
use plastic products for the pur poses of these regulations.
Offences. 14. Any person shall be guilty of an offence under these
regulations if:
(a) he fails to comply with any provisions of these
regulations or fails to comply with permit conditions or with a ny
order lawfully given in te rms of any provision of these
regulations; or 
(b) he contravenes any restriction, prohibition or
requirement imposed by or under these regulations; or 
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(c) he acts in contravention of any of the provisions of
these regulations; or 
(d) he conspires or attempts, o r aids, or abets, any other
person by whatever means, including advertising, counselling or
procurement to contravene the p rovisions of these regulations o r
to fail to comply with any such  provisions, including any order
lawfully given in terms of any of the provisions of theseregulations, or to contravene  any restriction, prohibition or
requirement imposed by or under the said regulations.
Punishments. 15. Any person who commits an offence against these
regulations shall, on c onviction, be liable:
(a) on a first conviction, to a fine ( multa) not exceeding
two thousand and three hundred and thirty euro (€2,330);
(b) on a second conviction or subsequent convictions, to
a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four thousand and six hundred and
sixty euro (€4,660):
Provided that whenever any person is found guilty of
committing an offence against these regulations by means of a v ehicle,
the owner of the said vehicle, where applicable, is held liable  in the
same manner and degree:
Provided further that the Court may order any person who
has been found guilty of committing an offence against these
regulations to pay for the expenses incurred by the competent a uthority
mentioned in these regulations as a result of the said offence,  t h e
revocation of the permit issued by the competent authority and the
confiscation of the corpus delicti , including the vehicle, if applicable.
Applicability of 
the Criminal 
Code.
Cap. 9.16. (1) The provisions of articles 23 and 30 of the Criminal
Code shall, mutatis mutandis , apply to proceedings in respect of
offences against these regulati ons, sohowever that the disquali fication
from holding or obtaining a licen ce, permit or authority shall in no
case be for less than one (1) year.
Cap. 9. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of article 370 of the
Criminal Code, proceedings for an offence against these regulat ions
shall be held before the Court of Magistrates (Malta) or the Co urt of
Magistrates (Gozo), as  the case may be, and shall be in accorda nce
with the provisions of the Crimin al Code regulating the procedu re
before the said courts as courts of criminal judicature.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Criminal Code, the
Attorney General shall always have a right of appeal to the Cou rt of
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Criminal Appeal from any judgement given by the Court of
Magistrates (Malta) or the Court of Magistrates (Gozo) in respe ct of
proceedings for any offence against these regulations.
SCHEDULE 1
Part A
Single-use plastic products covered by regulation 4 on
consumption reduction
(1) Cups for beverages, including their covers and lids. (2) Food containers, that is, receptacles such as boxes, with or
without a cover, used to contain food which: 
(a) is intended for immediate consumption, either on-the-
spot or take-away;
(b) is typically consumed f rom the receptacle; and 
(c) is ready to be consumed without any further
preparation, such as cooking, boiling or heating,
including food containers used for fast food or other meal read y
for immediate consumption, excep t beverage containers, plates a nd
packets and wrappers containing food. 
Part B
Single-use plastic products covered by regulation 6 on
marking requirements 
(1) Sanitary towels (pads), tampons and tampon applicators. (2) Wet wipes, that is, pre-wet ted personal care and domestic
wipes.
(3) Tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use i n
combination with tobacco products.
(4) Cups for beverages.
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Part C
I. Single-use plastic products covered by regulation 8 on
extended producer responsibility
(1) Food containers, that is, re ceptacles such as boxes, with or
without a cover, used to contain food which: 
(a) is intended for immediate consumption, either on-the-
spot or take-away; 
(b) is typically consumed from the receptacle; and 
(c) is ready to be consumed without any further
preparation, such as cooking, boiling or heating, 
including food containers used fo r fast food or other meal read y
for immediate consumption, except beverage containers, plates and
packets and wrappers containing food. 
(2) Packets and wrappers made from flexible material
containing food that is intended  for immediate consumption from  the
packet or wrapper without any further preparation.
S.L. 549.134.(3) Beverage containers with a capacity of up to three (3) litre s,
that is, receptacles used to contain liquid such as beverage bo ttles
including their caps and lids and composite beverage packaging
including their caps and lids, but not glass or metal beverage
containers that have caps and li ds made from plastic, excluding  those
single-use plastic beverage cont ainers that fall within the sco pe of the
Beverage Containers Recycling Regulations; 
(4) Cups for beverages, incl uding their covers and lids; 
S.L. 549.139.(5) Lightweight plastic carrier bags as defined in regulation 3
of the Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Lightweight Pla stic
Carrier Bags Regulations.
II. Single-use plastic products covered by regulation 8 on
extended producer responsibility
(1) W et wipes, that is, pre-we tted personal care and domestic
wipes; 
(2) Balloons, except balloons for industrial or other
professional uses and applications that are not distributed toconsumers.
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III. Single-use plastic products covered by regulation 7 on
extended producer responsibility
(1) Tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use i n
combination with tobacco products.
Part D
Single-use plastic products covered by regulation 5 on
product requirements and regula tion 11 on separate collection 
Beverage bottles with a capacity of up to three (3) litres,
including their caps and lids, but not: 
(a) glass or metal beverage bot tles that have caps and lids
made from plastic;
(b) beverage bottles intended and used for food for
special medical purposes as defined in point (g) of Article 2 o f
Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 tha t is in liquid form. 
Part E
Single-use plastic products covered by regulation 12 on
awareness raising 
(1) Food containers, that is, receptacles such as boxes, with or
without a cover, used to contain food which: 
(a) is intended for immediate consumption, either on-the-
spot or take-away;
(b) is typically consumed f rom the receptacle; and 
(c) is ready to be consumed without any further
preparation, such as cooking, boiling or heating, 
including food containers used for fast food or other meal read y
for immediate consumption, excep t beverage containers, plates a nd
packets and wrappers containing food.
(2) Packets and wrappers made from flexible material
containing food that is intended for immediate consumption from  the
packet or wrapper without any further preparation. 
(3) Beverage containers with a ca pacity of up to three (3) litres,
that is, receptacles used to cont ain liquid such as beverage bo ttles
including their caps and lids and composite beverage packaging
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including their caps and lids, but not glass or metal beverage
containers that have caps and lids made from plastic.
(4) Cups for beverages, including their covers and lids.
(5) Tobacco products with filters and filters marketed for use i n
combination with tobacco products. 
(6) W et wipes, that is, pre-we tted personal care and domestic
wipes; 
(7) Balloons, except balloons for industrial or other
professional uses and applications that are not distributed to
consumers.
S.L. 549.139.(8) Lightweight plastic carrier bags as defined in regulation 3
of the Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Lightweight Pla stic
Carrier Bags Regulations.
(9) Sanitary towels (pads), tampons and tampon applicators.
SCHEDULE 2
Administrative penalty according to regulation 5(5)
Producers of the beverage bottles listed in Part D of Schedule 1
that failed, either individually or collectively, to achieve th e applicable
plastic recycled content target  set out in regulation 5 during the
previous operational year, may be subject to an administrative penalty
in accordance with re gulation 5(5) and art icle 81 of the Act, c alculated
as follows: 
A*(B - C)*D = P
where: "A" is the total weight, in tonnes of the beverage bottles list ed in
Part D of Schedule 1 placed on the market during the previous
operational year;
" B "  i s  t h e  m i n i m u m  r e c y c l e d  p l a s t i c  c o n t e n t  t a r g e t  s e t  o u t  i n
regulation 5 applicable for  that operational year; 
"C" is the content of recycled p lastic in PET bottles or plasti c
bottles, calculated as an averag e for all PET bottles or plasti c bottles
placed on the market of Malta by the producers, either individually or
collectively, during the previous operational year, provided th at if C is
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greater than or equal to B, P would be considered to be equal t o zero
(0);
"D" is a fee equivalent to:
- one hundred euro (€100) per tonne if the difference between
"B" and "C" is more than 15 percentage points;
- seventy-five euro (€75) per t onne if the difference between "B"
and "C" is between 15 to 10 percentage points, both inclusive; and 
- fifty-five euro (€55) per tonne if the difference between "B" and
"C" is less than 10 percentage points;
"P" is the administrative penalty for the producers of the
beverage bottles listed in Part D of Schedule 1 that failed, either
individually or colle ctively, to achieve the minimum recycled p lastic
content target. 
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Ippubblikat mid-Dipartiment tal-Informazzjoni (doi.gov.mt) — Valletta — Published by the Department of Information (doi.gov.mt) — Valletta
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