The Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu has announced that the decision taken by the Council of Minister’s for the ban on the use of single-use plastics in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will come into force on July 11, 2023.

Ataoğlu said that a ban on use of plastic shopping bags will come into force on May 29, 2023 in line with an amendment made to the legislation on the use of packaging and wrapping waste.

Promising steps to protect the environment are being taken in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu announced on Monday that the use of single-use plastics such as plastic forks, knives, plates or straws will be banned as of July 11, 2023.

He added that an additional ban on the use of plastic shopping bags, currently sold or handed out for free at supermarkets, will come into force as of May 29, 2023 following amendments made to the legislation on the use of packaging and wrapping.

All establishments which will fail to comply with ban will be fined.

Announcing the news, Ataoğlu said that the use of plastics shopping backs had dropped by 70 per cent following the introduction of legislation in 2018 to charge consumers for bags but that during the pandemic, supermarkets and shops had started to hand out free bags again.

He said the new moves will gradually create a plastic free country.