The import and manufacture of supari and similar products sealed in plastic bags and packets apart from plastic bags and packets thinner than 50 microns has been banned in Maldives.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Environment Ministry stated that as part of its policy to reduce single-use plastics that harm the environment, import and manufacture of supari sealed in plastic bags and packets thinner than 50 microns used in the market will be banned starting Monday.

However, the Ministry added that two products will be completely banned from the market this coming June.

In Addition, the import and production of water in plastic bottles of one liter, and or less than one liter, will be banned in August this year. The ban on its release into the market will be imposed only after November.

The decision to ban single-use plastic products from being imported, manufactured, and marketed in the Maldives was initiated by the former administration under the Waste Management Act.