Guinea single-use plastic ban implementation

The Guinean government is finalizing a regulatory framework to ban the production, importation, and commercialization of single-use plastic products, with a target completion date of September 20, 2026. A joint decree signed on September 10, 2026, established specific procedures for control, certification, and importation to manage the transition.

The ban covers items such as disposable checkout bags, plastic beverage sachets, straws, stirrers, and expanded polystyrene tableware. While exceptions are granted for the medical, military, and agricultural sectors, the government has implemented traceability measures, including certificates of conformity and a centralized registry of infractions managed by the National Quality Control Office.

To promote better waste management, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has begun sensitizing other government departments, such as the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and distributing waste bins to encourage the use of alternatives to plastic containers. Companies have until the September 20 deadline to exhaust their current stocks.

Despite these efforts, legal experts have raised concerns that limited government communication and a lack of clarity regarding specific administrative procedures may create challenges for businesses attempting to transition to biodegradable alternatives.