Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, affirmed the Ministry’s commitment, in coordination with relevant authorities, to strengthening legislative and regulatory measures that support Bahrain’s industrial and commercial sectors while balancing economic development with environmental protection, in line with the Kingdom’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Ministerial Decision (7) of 2026 prohibits the manufacture, import, or use of single-use plastic bags less than 57 microns thick. The measure falls under the National Waste Management Strategy and aligns with international environmental best practices to promote sustainable practices and reduce plastic waste.
The minister clarified that the ban covers all single-use plastic bags below 57 microns, including bags containing plastic components, and applies to all carrying and hand-transport bags for goods and equipment, whether with or without handles, provided at points of sale or sold individually or in bundles. Exemptions include household waste bags, hazardous healthcare waste bags, packaging for medicines and food, and bags designated for export purposes.
The Minister stated that enforcement will be comprehensive. Products will be inspected before entry through ports by the Ministry’s Inspection and Standards Directorate to ensure compliance, with continued market monitoring through inspection campaigns and field surveys in coordination with the Inspection Directorate.
To ensure clarity, a comprehensive guidance manual in Arabic and English will accompany the decision to raise awareness among economic stakeholders and support full compliance.
The decision was issued following joint efforts between the Ministry and the Supreme Council for Environment, including a review of regional regulations, alignment with global best practices, and an analytical study assessing environmental benefits such as reducing carbon emissions and waste. A six-month transitional period has been granted to allow depletion of existing stock and enable manufacturers to comply with the new standards.
This decision builds on previous measures since 2019, which include Ministerial Decision (11) of 2019 on technical regulations for plastic products, Ministerial Decision (77) of 2021 banning plastic water bottles under 200ml, and Ministerial Decision (14) of 2022 banning single-use plastic bags under 35 microns.