Plastic bag ban enters phase four

Muscat: The fourth phase of the ban on plastic shopping bags will take effect on January 1, 2026, the Environment Authority announced on Tuesday. This is part of the National Programme to Reduce Plastic Pollution and Promote Sustainable Consumption Practices in the Sultanate of Oman.

The first phase targeted shopping bags in pharmacies, hospitals and clinics. The second phase included several commercial establishments, such as fabric, textile, clothing and Masar, tailors, opticians; mobile phone sales and repair shops, watch sales and repair shops, furniture and furnishings shops and household goods stores.

The third phase encompassed shopping malls and large establishments.

The fourth phase includes a ban on the use of plastic shopping bags in a number of commercial and service establishments including building and construction materials, kitchenware stores, feed, grain, agricultural supplies, pesticide stores, ice cream, corn, sweets and nuts stores, juice shops, kebab shops, mills, honey shops, date shops, water filter sales, repair shops, water pump sales and maintenance shops, car pump sales and maintenance shops, modern irrigation system stores, bird, fish, pet and related food stores as well as nurseries and agricultural supply stores.