Armenia will ban the sale and presence of polyethylene bags and a range of single-use plastic items from January 1, 2027, the Market Supervision Inspection Body said.
The ban will apply to retail outlets, food service establishments, markets, mobile vendors, fairs, exhibitions and open-air trade. It will cover plastic and foam-plastic containers, plates, cups, lids, spoons, forks, knives, drinking and stirring sticks, as well as polyethylene bags and sacks of any thickness.
Exceptions include bags used for bulk packaging, recycled-material garbage bags and plastic containers with lids used for bulk packaging.
Businesses will receive a warning for a first violation and face fines of 100,000–150,000 drams ($273–$410) for repeat violations.
Armenia previously banned polyethylene bags up to 50 microns in 2022, but authorities said the measure failed as retailers switched to thicker bags.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for awareness campaigns and support for businesses ahead of the 2027 ban.
