Armenia: plastic bags and disposable tableware banned in shops from 1 January 2027
- Published
- Place
- Armenia
- Event date
- Upcoming event —
Summary
From 1 January 2027, Armenian businesses will no longer be allowed to sell, hand out or keep polyethylene bags and single-use plastic items. The Ministry of Environment issued the reminder on 3 November. The ban covers shops, cafés and restaurants, markets and vernissages, fairs, mobile sellers and open-air trade. It applies to plastic bags as well as disposable plastic or foam cups, plates, lids, cutlery, stirrers and food containers. A few exceptions remain: bags used to pack goods sold by weight, bin bags made from recycled material and lidded containers for goods sold by weight. The rule is part of a law amending the act on trade and services, passed on 25 March 2026 and signed into law on 15 April by President Vahagn Khachaturyan.
Analysis
Retailers have less than two months to adapt. Supermarkets will have to offer alternatives such as paper or fabric bags, and cafés will need to change their takeaway cups and cutlery. The shift is likely to be harder for markets and small vendors, long used to free plastic bags. For shoppers, carrying a reusable bag should quickly become a must.
Possible consequences
From 1 January 2027, bring a reusable bag when shopping in Armenia; businesses must use up or replace their stocks before then.
