Plastic ban

Effective from July 1, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of certain plastic products including disposable products manufactured from plastic, and polystyrene also known as thermocol. To learn more about the list of banned products, go to Plastic and Thermocol.

For more information, go to https://cpcb.nic.in/uploads/plasticwaste/Notification-12-08-2021.pdf.

Previously many states in India have also issued notifications banning the manufacture, sale, storage, transportation, trading, import and use of certain plastic carry bags, disposable plastic or thermocol products, which may affect your business on Amazon.

There have been significant developments in this regard in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

To know the indicative list of states and the plastic related items that have been banned by those states, go to https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/31/rainer/statewise_List_Annexure._CB1198675309_.docx.

We recommend you to acquaint yourself with the notifications applicable in various states and consult with your legal advisors to understand the entire scope of the ban and exceptions to the same in various states.

What is Plastic ban and when will it be in effect? How does it affect my business on Amazon?

Many states in India have banned the manufacture, sale, storage, transportation, trading, import and use of certain plastic carry bags, disposable plastic, or thermocol products, such as disposable dishes and pouches, or plastic and thermocol products for decoration purposes.

As a seller, you are required to ensure that you do not list such products for sale. This includes any form of plastic carry bags.

In which states does my business get affected and what are the kind of products affected by the ban?

The products affected by the ban may differ in every state. For more information, go to Note on plastic ban in various states of India (except Maharashta).

What actions should I take for my business and by when do I have to comply? What happens if I do not comply?

You must immediately stop listing, sale, storage, transportation of the banned items to ensure that you are conducting your business in accordance with applicable laws.

Where can I find the list of my ASINs suppressed by Amazon?

You will receive an email notification covering details of the suppressed ASIN and reason for the same.

What actions should I take if I manufacture the products that I sell on Amazon?

You must independently contact your legal advisors to understand the additional compliances required to be adhered by a manufacturer of a product. Ensure that only those plastic or thermocol products, which follow applicable laws, are sold and listed on Amazon.

Can I list plastic products on website and ship plastic items through seller-fulfilment?

No. You cannot list or ship plastic products on Amazon.

How will I know if the new products that I intend to list are banned items or not?

Identify the area of your business and check the laws applicable in those areas. The nature of banned products may differ in every state.

Why are similar products from other sellers live on the website?

Depending upon the location of the seller, product and the customer, the requirements of the banned items may vary. However, sellers are required to independently comply with the requirement pertaining to banned products by de-listing banned them.

What happens to customer orders for banned items that fall within the return period?

Customer orders for banned products which have already been processed and returned to the fulfilment centre within the return period will be removed through our regular removal processing cycles. For orders returned directly to the seller, we suggest that they would reimburse the customer for that order and not relist such products on Amazon. For return orders fulfilled by Amazon, customers will be reimbursed in accordance with the Business Solutions Agreement.

Am I expected to create removals for the banned products currently in the fulfilment centres? Who will bear the cost of removals?

Amazon will create removals on your behalf and ship it to your business address available in Seller Central. We urge you to ensure that your business address is updated accurately in your selling account to avoid ‘Undeliverable’ issues due to incorrect address subsequent to which products will be returned to Amazon and may be disposed of. As a one-time exception, Amazon will bear the cost of these removals.

Is Plastic ban applicable to packaging material? If yes, then what actions will Amazon taking to ensure compliance pertinent to plastic packaging, such as poly-bags, poly-jiffy, bubble-wrap, shrink-wrap, opaque-bags, pouches and air pillows used during packaging for delivery to fulfilment centre?

Yes. Plastic carry bags are banned and are defined to typically include within its ambit packaging material as well. Amazon uses packaging material which follows the applicable laws.

If I am an Easy Ship and Seller Flex seller, what should I use as an alternate Packaging material? What will be the additional packaging cost that I need to bear?

This depends on the state-specific requirement. For instance, in Uttar Pradesh, usage of disposable plastic carry bags with 50 or more micron thickness having the name and registration number of manufacturer is currently allowed.

What packaging material should I use for shipping orders to and from Maharashtra and what should be avoided? Where can I procure non-plastic packaging materials?

Use of plastic as packaging material for shipments coming in or going out of Maharashtra is prohibited. Non-plastic, non-thermocol packaging material, such as corrugate and paper can be used. You can also use threaded paper envelopes for packing your orders shipping to Maharashtra.

For a list of vendors who sell non-plastic and non-thermocol packaging material, go to All e-commerce packaging solutions.

Can I use the plastic pouch with invoice and label?

Refrain from placing the label inside the pouch. Paste the label on the top-facing side of the package. You may alternately place the invoice inside the package.

How shall I pack fragile items?

You can use non-plastic, non-thermocol dunnage, such as rolled or shredded paper to pack fragile items. You can also wrap the fragile object, as required, with additional layers of non-plastic protective packaging to avoid damage to fragile items.

What is the penalty if I do not use compliant packaging?

Use of packaging, which is in violation of the notification may result in imprisonment or a fine between INR 5,000 to 25,000 with the fine increasing for every subsequent violation. If the violator is a company, then the directors may also be personally held accountable along with the company. We urge you to understand the implications of non-compliance of the notification clearly by acquainting yourself with the notification or consulting with a legal advisor.

Other e-commerce companies are allowing poly bag that are supplied by them, why is Amazon not providing the same?

Our advice to sellers has always been consistent. Sellers are required to ensure that they are compliant with applicable law. Our endeavour is to provide you with relevant, valid and accurate guidance as mentioned in existing applicable laws. We would not want to comment on communication received by you from non-Amazon sources including any other company.

I am having products that come in plastic packaging from the manufacturer. Can I continue to use this if the outer packaging by the seller is non-plastic?

Yes. As long as you do not use any plastic packaging over and above the manufacturer’s packaging, there is no issue.

Are there any exemptions under the notification for use of plastic packaging material?

The notification provides certain specific exemptions for manufacturers, packaging of medicines and medical equipment, retailers of grain and groceries, and more. The relaxation provided could be either broad or for use of plastic of certain specifications depending on the exemption category. To understand the categories and extent of exemption, acquaint yourself with the notification or consult with your legal advisor.

We recommend you to take independent advice from your legal advisors to understand your obligations and compliances with respect to usage of packaging material in a particular state.