Presidential Decree No. 170/25, which approves the Regulation on the Production, Import, Commercialization, and Use of Single-Use Plastic Products and Materials in Angola, was published in the Angolan Official Gazette (Diário da República) on 22 September 2025.
This decree represents a significant milestone in the country’s environmental policy, establishing a detailed legal framework for the progressive elimination of single-use plastics, in line with Angola’s international obligations, particularly under the Basel Convention. The regulation aims to reduce the negative environmental impact associated with the excessive consumption of these materials and to promote sustainable alternatives, encouraging the transition towards a circular economy.
Presidential Decree No. 170/25 provides for the gradual prohibition of the production, import, commercialization, and use of certain single-use plastic products, setting out distinct deadlines for the entry into force of these restrictions to allow a phased adaptation by economic operators and consumers excluding, however, relevant sectors such as health, oil and gas, fisheries, cosmetics, agriculture, construction, personal hygiene, and others. Among the measures established, the regulation highlights the mandatory provision of reusable, biodegradable, or compostable alternatives, as well as the requirement for biodegradability certification for certain products.
The decree also imposes:
- A set of obligations on economic operators, including the implementation of awareness-raising and information campaigns directed at the public, cooperation with supervisory authorities, and the provision of relevant information regarding the production, import, and commercialization of these materials.
- The preparation of annual reports assessing the environmental, economic, and social impacts resulting from its application, thereby reinforcing the State’s commitment to environmental protection and the improvement of the population’s quality of life.
Presidential Decree No. 170/25 entered into force on the date of its publication, 22 September 2025. Failure to comply with the obligations set out therein may result in fines. For example, the sale of PET bottles smaller than 500 ml after September 2028 will constitute an administrative offence.
