Sao Tome and Principe bans plastic bags
Law 8/2020 prohibits plastic bag production, import, and sale, with government to create incentives for alternatives.
Sao Tome and Principe banned plastic bags on September 21, 2020, through Law 8/2020. The law, published in the Official Gazette, prohibits the production, import, commercialization, and free distribution of plastic bags.
The legislation aims to curb plastic waste, following similar actions in Cabo Verde and Angola. The government is tasked with creating economic and administrative incentives to encourage private investment in alternative products.
Future revisions of the law could progressively ban other single-use plastic items like cups and cutlery, mirroring Cabo Verde's broader approach. The quality of alternative products must also be verified as per the law's implementation monitoring clause.
Why it mattersThe ban on plastic bags directly affects consumers and businesses involved in their production, import, and sale in Sao Tome and Principe.