Guinea tightens rules to enforce ban on single-use plastics
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Guinea’s government strengthened regulations to enforce a 2024 decree banning single-use plastics throughout the country.
On September 10, 2026, officials signed a joint order detailing how they will control, certify, and authorize plastic products. The new rules target items like disposable shopping bags, water sachets, straws, and polystyrene food containers, also prohibiting their disposal in public spaces and waterways.
The government will allow some exceptions for medical, military, and agricultural uses, as well as for certain PET bottles and security film for luggage. Businesses using these exceptions must obtain an annual certificate from the Ministry of the Environment. Plastic manufacturers must also submit yearly reports detailing their practices to authorities. Importing raw plastic materials, including granules, polymers, and resins, now requires environmental approval and a permit from the Ministry of Commerce.
Finished plastic products marketed as biodegradable must have a compliance certificate from an accredited organization. Customs officials will not release goods without the required documentation. These measures aim to move Guinea from simply prohibiting single-use plastics to actively controlling and tracking them, with the long-term goal of reducing plastic pollution and protecting the environment.
