B 3363
L.N. 480 of 2020
SUPPLIES AND SERVICES ACT
(CAP. 117)
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT
(CAP. 549)
Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Lightweight Plastic 
Carrier Bags Regulations, 2020
IN EXERCISE of the powers c onferred by article 3 of the
Supplies and Services Act, and articles 54 and 55 of the Environment
Protection Act, the Minister for the Economy and Industry and t he
Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning, have
made the following regulations:
Citation. 1. The title of these regulations i s the Restrictions on Placing
on the Market of Plastic Carrier Bags Regulations, 2020.
Scope. 2. (1) These regulations bring into effect the provisions of
Directive (EU) 2015/720 of the European Parliament and of theCouncil of 29 April 2015 amending Directive 94/62/EC as regards
reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags.
(2) The Environment and Resources Authority and the
Customs Department shall collabor ate and cooperate in enforcing
these regulations.
(3) These regulations shall not apply to the plastic carrier bag s
not intended for placing on the market in Malta.
Interpretation. 3. (1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise
requires:
"biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags" means
plastic carrier bags certified b y an accredited conformity asse ssment
body to comply with harmonised standard EN 13432:2000 onrequirements for packaging rec overable through composting and
biodegradation;
"lightweight plastic carrier bag s" means plastic carrier bags w ith
a wall thickness below 50 microns;
"making available on the market " means any supply of plastic
carrier bags for distribution, consumption or use on the market  i n
Malta in the course of a commerci al activity, whether in return  f o r
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payment or free of charge;
"placing on the market" means the first making available of
plastic carrier bags on the market in Malta;
"plastic" means a polym er within the meaning of Article 3(5) of
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the
Council, to which additives or other substances may have been a dded,
and which is capable of functioning as a main structural component of
carrier bags;
"plastic carrier bags"  means carrier bags, with or without hand le,
made of plastic, which are supp lied to consumers at the point o f sale of
goods or products;
"point of sale" means any reta il premises, whether movable or
immovable, or a retail website or similar online sales facility ,
including a telephone service;
"producer" means any natural or legal person who:
(a) is established in Malta and manufactures plastic
carrier bags to be placed on t he market in Malta; 
(b) is established in Malta a nd places on the market of
Malta, on a professional basis, plastic carrier bags, from a third
country or from another EU Member State;
S.L. 378. 17.(c) sells plastic carrier bags by means of distance
communication as defined in th e Consumer Rights Regulations
directly to consumers in Malta and is established in another EUMember State or third country;
"reusable plastic carrier bags" means plastic carrier bags whic h
have been conceived, designed and placed on the market to accom plish
within its lifecycle multiple trips or rotations by being reuse d for the
same purpose for which it was conceived;
"very lightweight plastic carrier  bags" means plastic carrier b ags
with a wall thickness below 15 microns which are required for h ygiene
purposes or provided as primary p ackaging for loose food when t his
helps to prevent food wastage.
Restrictions on 
placing on the 
market.4. (1) As from 1 January 2021, the importation, intra-
Community acquisition, and manufacturing for the circulation on  the
market in Malta, in the course of a commercial activity, of any
lightweight plastic carrier bags shall be prohibited.
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(2) As from 1 January 2022, any supply of lightweight plastic
carrier bags for distribution, consumption or use on the market  i n
Malta, in the course of a commer cial activity, whether in retur n for
payment or free of charge, shall be prohibited.
(3) The following plastic carrier bags shall be exempt from the
prohibitions referred to in sub-regulations (1) and (2):
(a) very lightweight plastic carrier bags;
(b) biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags;
and
(c) reusable plastic carrier bags.
S.L. 549. 43.(4) Producers of biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier
bags shall, upon applying to renew their registration in accord ance
with regulation 21(2) of the Wa ste Management (Packaging and
Packaging Waste) Regulations, submit the certificates issued by  a n
accredited conformity assessm ent body indicating that all the
biodegradable and compostable pl astic carrier bags placed on th e
national market in the course o f a calendar year comply with
harmonised standard EN 13432:2000:
Provided that such certificat es shall be made available to
the Environment and Resources Authority upon request and to the
Customs Department on importati on, intra-Community acquisition,
manufacturing or otherwise when requested. 
(5) The biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags
shall be labelled in accordance w ith the specifications provide d for in
the implementing act referred to in Article 8a of Directive 94/62/EC. 
Offences and 
penalties.5. (1) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with
the prohibitions under regulati on 4, shall, on conviction, be g uilty of
an offence under these regulations.
(2) Any person who commits or a ttempts to commit an offence
against these regulations shall, on conviction, be liable:
(a) on a first conviction to a fine (multa) not exceeding
one thousand five hundred euro (€1,500);
(b) on a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine
(multa) not exceeding two thousand five hundred euro (€2,500):
Provided that the court shall order any person who has been
found guilty of committing an offence against these regulations  to pay
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for the expenses incurred by any of the competent  authorities a s a
result of the said offence and shall moreover order the confiscation of
the products to which the offence relates, even though the owne r
thereof may not be a party to the proceedings.
Cap. 9. (3) The provisions of article 23 and 30(1) of the Criminal Code
shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to proceedings in respect of offences
against these regulations.
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