Environmental Protection (Control of Plastic Pollution) Act No. 38 of 2019. Country/Territory Bahamas Document type Legislation Date 2019 Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleAn Act to prohibit single use plastic food ware and non-biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable and biodegradable single use plastic bags; prohibit the release of balloons; regulate the use of compostable single use plastic. Subject Environment gen. Keyword Recycling/reuse Waste management Geographical area Americas, Caribbean, Latin America and the Caribbean, North Atlantic, Small Island Developing States Entry into force notes This Act shall come into force on the 1st day of January, 2020. Abstract This Act lays down rules for prohibiting single use plastic food ware and non-biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable and biodegradable single use plastic bags; prohibiting the release of balloons; and regulating the use of compostable single use plastic. Article 4 states that no person shall import, distribute, manufacture, possess, sell, supply, or use in The Bahamas any of the single use plastic food ware set out in the Schedule. However, that does not apply to a) reusable plastic food ware; (b) compostable plastic food ware; or (c) plastic food ware that is an integral part of the packaging in which food or drink is sealed prior to its delivery to a point of sale. The Minister may make regulations to prescribe standards for compostability, biodegradability, and reusability; establish the manner in which single use plastic bags and other similar use products are to be received, processed, disposed of, or recycled; and any other matter that the Minister considers necessary for the carrying out of this Act. Full text English Website elaw.org