KATHMANDU, APRIL 8
The Government has issued a new Plastic Bag (Regulation and Control) Directive, 2082, replacing the earlier directive of 2068, establishing comprehensive standards for the production, import, storage, sale, distribution, and use of plastic bags across the country.
Issued by the Ministry of Forests and Environment under the authority of Section 45 of the Environment Protection Act, 2076, the directive comes into immediate effect and applies to all producers, importers, storers, sellers, and users of plastic bags.
Key standards and restrictions
The directive prohibits the production, import, storage, sale, and use of plastic bags thinner than 40 microns. Only bags measuring at least 7 inches by 14 inches or larger may be produced, imported, and sold as general plastic bags, while garbage bags must be at least 14 inches by 26 inches or larger.
Plastic bags intended for food, water, and pharmaceutical products must be made exclusively from virgin food-grade plastic granules, while bags for non-food items must use virgin plastic granules. Garbage bags may use a combination of virgin and domestically produced recycled granules.
A mandatory colour-coding system has been introduced: natural or uncoloured bags for food, water, and pharmaceutical use; black bags exclusively for garbage; and other colours only for non-food items. All bags must display the producer's name and address, recycling symbol, thickness in microns, size, and whether made from virgin granules - printed in permanent ink at minimum 15–20 font size.
Obligations by sector
Producers are required to maintain calibrated measuring equipment, keep records of production volumes, sizes, and batch numbers, manage waste generated during production responsibly, and submit annual production details to the Environment Department. Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, producers must ensure proper disposal of at least ten percent of the plastic waste from their total production annually.
Importers must only import bags meeting the prescribed standards, maintain records of quantities, sizes, and sales, possess calibrated measuring instruments, and similarly comply with EPR obligations for at least ten percent of imported volumes.
Sellers are required to stock and sell only compliant bags, immediately notify local authorities upon encountering non-compliant products, and collect and properly manage all plastic bags from their premises.
Users are directed to minimise plastic bag use, opt for eco-friendly alternatives wherever possible, use designated garbage bags for household and other waste, reuse bags where possible, and never burn plastic bags openly.
Enforcement
The Environment Department is empowered to regulate compliance and deploy inspectors under the Environment Protection Act, 2076. Inspectors may submit findings in the prescribed format, and the department may take action against non-compliant individuals or entities under Section 35(3) of the Act. The Ministry may also issue directions to the department for effective implementation of the directive.
Provincial governments and local bodies may adopt the directive as guidance and form committees as needed for regulation at their respective levels.
The directive replaces the Plastic Bag (Regulation and Control) Directive, 2068, with all actions taken under the previous directive deemed valid under the new one.
