Meeting held with the business sector on the regulation of single-use plastics in contact with food

The First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Nino Tandilashvili, together with Deputy Ministers Solomon Pavliashvili, Kakha Kakabadze and Lasha Avaliani, met with representatives of the business sector — including retail chains, plastic manufacturers and importers.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming regulation of plastic products intended to come into direct contact with food.

“As you know, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture is actively working on the regulation of single-use plastics that come into direct contact with food. For us, close cooperation with the sector is essential in order to develop a regulatory framework that balances public health, environmental protection and economic interests,”
said Nino Tandilashvili.

According to the draft version of the regulation, the production (except for export), import and placing on the market of the following items will be banned: plastic knives, forks, spoons, plates, stirrers, straws, chopsticks, drink mixers, as well as food containers made of expanded polystyrene, their lids, and plastic cups and lids.

The regulation will also apply to food service establishments that supply ready-to-eat meals to consumers using single-use plastic food containers and cups.

The transition period for implementing the new regulation was one of the key topics discussed during the meeting.

It was highlighted that excessive use of plastic is one of today’s most serious environmental challenges. According to research conducted in Georgia, the country consumes approximately 612.5 million units of single-use plastic cups, lids, food containers, knives, forks, spoons, straws, plates and stir sticks every year, which amounts to 3.9–5.9 thousand tons of plastic waste.

The meeting at the Ministry was attended by the Executive Director of the Business Association of Georgia, Levan Vepkhvadze, along with heads of relevant departments and Ministry officials.