The draft law “On Making Amendment and Addendum” to the law “On Trade and Services”, along with the attached presented package of the draft laws was debated in the first reading at the RA NA regular sitting of February 11.
The package of drafts proposes to prohibit the sale or presence of polyethylene bags and pouches, single-use containers and tableware made of plastic in trade, public catering facilities, places of trade, mobile trading points, fairs (vernissages), exhibitions, as well as in open-air trade from January 1, 2027.
An exception is established for bags made of secondary raw materials intended for garbage, as well as plastic containers with lids used for packaging.
Liability has been established for violating the ban: a warning for the first violation, and a fine in the amount of 100 to 150 thousand drams for the second and subsequent cases.
“Limiting the consumption of single-use plastic in Armenia is not only an important environmental, but also a political and economic step,” Ara Mkrtchyan said, answering the deputies’ questions. 
Reference was made to the effectiveness of the use of paper bags, disposable tableware, bags made of cloth or other permitted raw materials, and steps aimed at solving ecological problems.
In his final speech the RA Deputy Minister of Environment referred to the questions raised and observations made by the deputies.