The Georgian government has postponed the enforcement of restrictions on plastic beverage bottles by four years, moving the deadline to February 1, 2031, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced during a government meeting on April 8.
The decision comes after consultations with representatives of the business sector, with authorities mentioning the need to balance environmental goals with economic stability. While reducing plastic consumption remains a priority for public health and environmental protection, the government acknowledged concerns over potential cost increases and operational challenges for companies.
Under the updated timeline, measures that were previously scheduled to take effect earlier will now be delayed until 2031. These include:
- A ban on serving beverages in plastic bottles in restaurants and cafés, initially planned for July 1, 2026
- A full prohibition on the production, import and sale of plastic beverage bottles (except for export), originally set for February 1, 2027.
Both steps will now be implemented simultaneously in 2031.
Officials emphasized that the postponement does not signal a shift away from environmental commitments but rather reflects an approach to minimize disruption to businesses and consumers.
