Georgia Bans Sale of Certain Single-Use Plastic Items from April 1

Starting April 1, 2026, the sale of certain plastic items intended for food contact has been banned in Georgia.

According to a decision by the Government of Georgia, the sale of plastic forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, plates, straws, drink stirrers, as well as food containers made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and their lids, and plastic cups and their lids, is now prohibited. The import and production of these items had already been banned as of January 1, 2026.

From April 1, an additional regulation restricting plastic use also comes into force. Specifically, public institutions subject to state procurement regulations are prohibited from purchasing plastic cups, containers, and beverages packaged in plastic bottles with a volume of up to 3 liters. This restriction does not apply to such purchases made for the needs of the Defense Forces and military personnel.

Compliance with these regulations will be monitored, within their respective competencies, by the National Food Agency, the Department of Environmental Supervision, and the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance.

In accordance with the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia, violations of these requirements will result in a fine of GEL 1,000 and confiscation of the relevant products, while repeated violations will incur a fine of GEL 2,000 along with confiscation.

It is important to note that the regulation does not apply to exports of plastic products. Manufacturers producing goods for export are required to notify the Department of Environmental Supervision in writing at least one month prior to the start of production, indicating the production timelines, quantity of products, export destinations, and export schedule.