This document has been developed in accordance with the law on restricting the circulation of plastic products and polymer bags. From January 1, 2027, a ban on the use of certain plastic products will come into effect nationwide, and the new list is intended to establish clear rules for the transition period. Only biodegradable packaging and products that are subject to recycling will be allowed in circulation.
The justification for introducing restrictions is related to the seriousness of the problem: plastic and polyethylene bags account for approximately 26% of the total waste volume in landfills in Kyrgyzstan. In 2024, the import of polyethylene bags will amount to 15,400 tons, while domestic production will be only 708 tons. The issue of pollution in Lake Issyk-Kul, which is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, is particularly acute.
List of polymer film bags and disposable plastic tableware permitted for use in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic:
| № | Name of polymer film bags and disposable tableware | Commodity Nomenclature Code for Foreign Economic Activity (TN VED EAEU) | Thickness of bags (in microns; μm) | Content of biodegradable materials in packaging (%) | Content of recycled plastic in packaging materials (%) |
| 1. | Rolls of packaging bags | 3923 21 000 0 | 1 layer 15 μm | 100 % | - |
| 2. | Rolls of "T-shirt" bags | 3923 21 000 0 | 1 layer 15 μm | 100 % | - |
| 3. | Bags with loop handles | 3923 21 000 0 | 1 layer 50 μm | - | 20 % |
| 4. | Bags with cut-out handles | 3923 21 000 0 | 1 layer 50 μm | - | 20% |
| 5. | Garbage bags | 3923 21 000 0 | 1 layer 20 μm | - | 100 % |
| 6. | Disposable plastic products | 3924 10 000 0 | - | - | 20% |
Note
- The use of bags and disposable plastic tableware includes production, consumption, sale, and free distribution in trade and services exclusively within the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Biodegradable packaging is packaging that can undergo composting and biodegradation due to the biological activity of microorganisms, resulting in aerobic decomposition into carbon dioxide, water, mineral salts, and new biomass or anaerobic decomposition into carbon dioxide, methane, mineral salts, and new biomass.
- Safety requirements for bags and disposable tableware must comply with the technical regulation of the Customs Union "On the Safety of Packaging" (TR TS 005/2011).
