SAFEGUARDS | Consumer Products NO. 145/17

The Seychelles has amended its Environmental Law to prohibit polystyrene boxes, plastic bags and utensils, as well as requiring biodegradable forms of these products to conform to prescribed standards. These new regulations became effective on July 1, 2017.

In June 2017, the Seychelles published two Statutory Instruments (S.I.) to amend its Environment Protection Act, 2016. These publications are:

  • S.I. 37 of 2017 - Environment Protection (Restriction on manufacturing, importation, distribution and sale of plastic bags) Regulations 2017 [1]

  • S.I. 38 of 2017 - Environment Protection (Restriction on importation, distribution and sale of plastic utensils and polystyrene boxes) Regulations 2017 [2]

These Statutory Instruments strictly prohibit plastic bags, plastic utensils and polystyrene boxes in the Republic of Seychelles. They also require the biodegradable form of these products to conform to prescribed international standards and direct the Bureau of Standards to validate Certificates of Conformity (CoCs) accompanying these goods.

The standards for biodegradable bags, plastic utensils and polystyrene boxes are:

  • AS 4736-2006 'Biodegradable plastics - biodegradable plastics suitable for composting and other microbial treatment'

  • ASTM D6400 'Standard specification for labeling of plastics designed to be aerobically composted in municipal or industrial facilities'

  • EN 13432 'Packaging - Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation - Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging'

  • ISO 14855 'Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability and disintegration of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide'

According to S.I. 37 of 2017 on plastic bags, a specific list of these products are exempt. This new law also repealed S.I. 39 of 2008 'The Environment Protection (Restriction on Plastic Bags) Regulations 2008'.

Highlights of the two amendments to the Environment Protection Act, 2016, are summarized in the Table below.

Republic of Seychelles Environment Protection Act, 2016 (Act 18 of 2016)
Citation
Scope
Standard
Requirement
Effective Date
S.I. 37 of 2017 Biodegradable bags
  • AS 4736-2006
  • ASTM D6400
  • EN 13432
  • ISO 14855
Conform July 1, 2017
S.I. 38 of 2017 Biodegradable boxes
Biodegradable utensils
Note
Importers are required to submit a CoC as part of their import permit application

NEXT STEP:

Stakeholders are advised to comply with the latest requirements for biodegradable products for the Seychelles.

Throughout our global network of laboratories, we are able to provide a range of services, including analytical and consultancy services for biodegradable products for international markets. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

For enquiries, please contact:

Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
t: +852 2774 7420

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SGS SA published this content on 11 September 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 11 September 2017 03:03:04 UTC.

Original documenthttp://www.sgs.com/en/news/2017/09/safeguards-14517-seychelles-bans-certain-plastic-products

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