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7.1. Mauritius is one of the most economically affected countries in the world due to the COVID 19 pandemic. (...) The only restrictive measure taken as from the beginning of this year is a complete ban on the production, imports and exports of single use plastic products. This measure justified under Article XX of the Marrakesh Agreement is a demonstration, in essence, of the commitment of Mauritius to the protection of the environment, and to the promotion of sustainable and eco-friendly development.

14. Non automatic import licensing procedures were removed on many products. However, for some sensitive agricultural products, the import permit system is still used for self-sufficiency purposes. (...) An import ban on certain types of plastic bags and other products was introduced in 2021 to make Mauritius a plastic-free country.

Table 2.2 WTO notifications, 2014-April 2021
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
Agreements-Topic: Article 10.6
Requirement/content: Single-use plastic and biodegradable products
Periodicity: Ad hoc
WTO document and date: G/TBT/N/MUS/12, 5 November 2020; G/TBT/N/MUS/11, 5 November 2020

Table 2.2 WTO notifications, 2014-April 2021
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
Agreements-Topic: Article 2.10 (2)
Requirement/content: Banning of plastic bags
Periodicity: Ad hoc
WTO document and date: G/TBT/N/MUS/5, 21 January 2016

3.7. Customs' risk-management system comprises four channels (...) The share of imports subject to detailed document inspection from different government departments through the yellow channel increased between 2013 and 2020, as have clearance times; according to Customs, this reflected new controls on products such as (...) articles of plastic such as carrier bags, (...).

Table 3.11 Import permit requirements for restricted goods, 2021
HS code: 29.03, 38.25, 39.23
Items: Plastic bags, refrigerants, etc.
Entity: Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change
Rationale: Environmental protection

3.63. In line with one objective of Government Programme 2020-2024 to make Mauritius a plastic free country, the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change adopted specific measures to ban certain types of plastic products and plastic bags: • According to the Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020, single-use plastic products will be banned in stages, depending on the product, starting from 15 January 2021. Only those biodegradable single-use plastic products specified in the regulations may be imported or manufactured. Importers and manufacturers of biodegradable single-use products must be registered with the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change (MUR 10,000 registration fee), and imports require a permit (clearance). • Non-biodegradable plastic bags have been banned since 1 January 2016 under the Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2015. These regulations were repealed, and new Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations 2020 entered into force on 1 March 2021. Accordingly, the use, manufacture, sale, and imports and exports of plastic bags are banned, subject to certain exemptions (e.g. plastic bags designed to be used for the disposal of waste, including quarantine and clinical waste). Importers and manufacturers of exempt or biodegradable plastic bags are subject to registration with the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, and imports require a permit.

Table 3.6 Import prohibitions
HS Code: 39232990
Institution: Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP)
Products: Plastic bags

Table 3.7 Import restrictions, June 2021
HS Code: 26, 28-29, 38
Institution: Environment Authority
Products: (...) Gases, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment; Wild animals, caviar, bags and shoes of genuine leather, articles of ivory and tortoiseshell bones, horns, coral and shells; Waste chemicals, waste polymers and plastics, waste rubber, scrap and waste iron, copper, nickel, lead, zinc and tin, and waste metals

10. Since its last Review, Bahrain has introduced import prohibitions on waste, parings, and scrap of plastic. (...)