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Burkina Faso: Select plastic laws
Plastic
Waste
Plastics and plastic waste
Law prohibiting the production, import, marketing and distribution of non-biodegradable plastic packaging and bags. Law n° 017-2014 of May 20, 2014.
The 2014 law bans the production, import, marketing and distribution of non-biodegradable plastic packaging and bags in Burkina Faso. Arts. 1 and 5. The law aims to eliminate the spread in the natural environment of plastic waste generated by the non-rational use of non-biodegradable plastic packaging and bags. Art. 2 The law applies to any producer, importer or distributor of non biodegradable plastic packaging and bags within the national territory. Art. 3
The law also prohibits any abandonment, dumping, or discharge of plastic packaging or bags in the natural environment, public roads, any deposit of solid or liquid products in plastic packaging and plastic bags in the public domain including inland waters. Art. 6.
The law further prohibits any production, import, marketing, or distribution of unauthorized packaging and plastic bags. Art. 6.
However, the ban does not apply to plastic packaging and bags used directly in the packaging of manufactured products, the list of which is established by joint order of the ministers. Art. 11. The prohibition also does not apply to non-biodegradable plastic packaging and bags intended directly for health activities, of scientific and experimental research or intended for the measures of national security and safety. Art. 13.
The production, import, marketing and distribution of biodegradable plastic packaging and bags are authorized only after approval by the competent services. Art. 12.
Applicable penalties
Burkina Faso punishes with a prison sentence of three months to five years and a fine of one hundred thousand (100,000) to ten million (10,000,000) CFA francs, or one of these two penalties, anyone who produces, imports, markets or distributes non-biodegradable plastic packaging and bags in violation of the provisions of the Law. And this penalty is doubled in case of subsequent offense. Art. 7.