Traders banned from handing shopping bags FOC to consumers from Nov. 1
October 2, 2025 05:44 am
A gazette extraordinary has been issued suspending the free distribution of plastic shopping bags to consumers from November 1.
The gazette has been issued by the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority Hemantha Samarakoon.
According to the gazette, the Consumer Affairs Authority has directed that no trader shall, at the time of selling of goods, issue free of charge to any consumer, bags made of the following raw materials.
Furthermore, the price charged for such bags should be mentioned on the bill issued to the consumer.
The regulation is applicable to Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE).
The directive of the Consumer Affairs Authority states bags of any dimension with handles for the purpose of carrying purchased goods generally referred as “sili- sili bags” will come into effect from November 1, 2025.
