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Packaging rule · Colombia · Ban

Gradual ban on single-use plastic products (Law 2232 of 2022)

Ban covering plastic, single-use plastic in Colombia, set by Congress of Colombia. Applies since 7 July 2024.

By the SPI teamRule ID PR-CO-002Source consulted 14 October 2026Verified 14 October 2026
Sourced facts

The rule

Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.

Jurisdiction
Colombia
Authority
Congress of Colombia
Rule type
Ban
Materials
Plastic, Single-use plastic
Status
In force Enacted
Adopted or published
7 July 2022
Applies from
7 July 2024
From the source

“La prohibición de los numerales 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 y 11 se aplicará al término de los dos años contados a partir de la entrada en vigencia de la presente ley.”

Official source Cancilleria normograma: Ley 2232 de 2022Official (government or regulator) · consulted 14 October 2026

Deadlines

Key dates

  1. Adopted or published 4 years and 3 months ago

  2. Applies from 2 years and 3 months ago

  3. Source consulted by the SPI team today

  4. Re-checked by a second SPI team member today

SPI analysis

What it means

SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

SPI summary

Prohibits placing listed single-use plastic products on the market in two phases: items such as checkout bags, straws and stirrers two years after entry into force, and remaining listed items after eight years. Article 17 also sets minimum national post-consumer recycled content for PET beverage bottles from 2025, rising to 2040.

In practice

Law 2232 of 2022 bars placing listed single-use plastic products on the Colombian market in two waves. The first wave covered checkout bags, newspaper and advertising bags, supermarket roll bags, straws and stirrers, balloon sticks and cotton bud stems; the second wave, eight years after entry into force, adds items such as takeaway food containers, cutlery, tableware and packaging for unpeeled fresh produce. Food service packaging suppliers and brands selling fresh produce in Colombia are the most affected by the second wave.

Where the record is unclear

  • Exact start dates depend on the entry-into-force date; the source states publication in Diario Oficial 52.089 on 8 July 2022, while the record uses 7 July 2022.
  • Several implementing measures (product characteristics, labelling, substitution policy, certification bodies) were due within 6 to 12 months; their adoption was not checked on the source.

Where it sits in the tracker

  • One of 2 packaging rules we track in Colombia, of which 1 are ban rules.
  • In all, 17 ban rules are tracked across 11 jurisdictions. Compare them below

Company profiles that map to this rule

Companies whose SPI profile lists this rule in its regulatory exposure, based on where they report selling. Not company-reported.

SPI analysis

Overview

Law 2232 of 2022 is a statute passed by Congress, dated 7 July 2022 and published in Diario Oficial 52.089 the next day. Article 35 makes it apply from promulgation and repeals contrary provisions, with one exception: Law 1973 of 2019 stays in force1. The law's ban operates through Article 4, which prohibits introducing to the market, selling and distributing the products that Article 5 lists in 14 numbered items, and Article 6, which times the ban by item number1.

The law is broader than a product list. Article 12 bars the entry and use of single-use plastics in national parks, páramos, Ramsar wetlands, sensitive marine ecosystems and biosphere reserves1. Article 13 forbids public entities, and private bodies performing public functions, from contracting for single-use plastics or for products packed in them once the law's second year is complete1. Article 17 adds recycled content and collection goals for PET and HDPE that reach to 20401.

Many working details were left to regulation. The law gave the Ministry of Environment 12 months to set the characteristics and certification of substitute products (Art. 4, para. 1), 12 months for a technical labelling regulation (Art. 11) and six months to designate bodies certifying products made of 100% recycled plastic (Art. 5, numeral 9)1.

Duties

Who must do what

Manufacturer and importer

  • Stop placing on the market items 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 11 of Article 5 two years after the law took effect, and items 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 after eight years (Art. 6)1.
  • Make drinking water PET bottles with at least 50% recycled raw material from 2025, rising to 90% in 2030, and other beverage PET bottles with at least 20% from 2025, rising to 35% in 2030, 40% in 2035 and 60% in 2040 (Art. 17(1) and (2))1.
  • Collect 50% of all bottles and containers for liquids by 2030, involving the chain and giving priority to waste pickers (Art. 17(4))1.

Seller and distributor

  • Stop selling and distributing the listed items on the same two-year and eight-year timetable (Arts. 4 and 6)1.

Public entities and the Ministry of Environment

  • Public entities: no contracts for single-use plastics or products packed in them after the second year, preceded by reduction actions adopted within six months (Art. 13)1.
  • Ministry of Environment: issue the administrative measures and technical support needed to apply the law (Art. 13, para. 2)1.
Scope

Are you in scope?

Work through each question. The answers are the SPI team's reading of the sources cited.

  1. Is the item a checkout bag, a newspaper or advertising bag, a roll bag at a retail surface, a straw or stirrer, a balloon stick or a cotton bud stem?

    If yes
    First-wave item (numerals 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 11), banned two years after entry into force (Art. 6)1.
    If no
    Check the second-wave list1.

  2. Is it takeaway packaging for unpackaged food or drink, plates, cutlery, cups, confetti, table covers, food-wrapping film, dental floss handles, fresh-produce packaging or produce stickers?

    If yes
    Second-wave item, banned eight years after entry into force (Art. 6)1.
    If no
    The item is outside the Article 5 list1.

  3. Is the product made from 100% national post-consumer recycled plastic, certified by an accredited body?

    If yes
    Exempt under Article 5, paragraph, numeral 91.
    If no
    Check the other exceptions in the same paragraph1.

  4. Is the bag reusable or for industrial use?

    If yes
    Numeral 1 excludes it from the checkout bag item1.
    If no
    The first-wave ban applies to checkout bags1.

  5. Do you sell to a public entity?

    If yes
    Its contracts may not include single-use plastics or goods packed in them after the second year (Art. 13)1.
    If no
    Article 13 does not apply1.
Checklist

Compliance checklist

  1. Map the range to Article 5 numerals

    By Now

    SPI analysis of the official text. Not legal advice; confirm with the text or counsel. Tag every single-use plastic item sold in Colombia with its Article 5 numeral so that the Article 6 wave is clear1.

    Evidence to keep SKU list with numeral and wave.

  2. Replace second-wave items

    By July 2030

    Takeaway containers, tableware and fresh-produce packaging fall in the eight-year wave counted from entry into force in July 2022 (Arts. 6 and 35)1.

    Evidence to keep Substitution plan by SKU with target dates.

  3. Document any exception

    By Before relying on it

    The 100% recycled plastic exception requires certification by an accredited body (Art. 5, numeral 9)1.

    Evidence to keep Certification and supplier declarations.

  4. Meet PET recycled content

    By 2025, then 2030, 2035 and 2040

    Most of the recycled share must be national post-consumer material (Art. 17(1) and (2))1.

    Evidence to keep Recycled resin certificates with origin.

  5. Report under the packaging plan

    By March or April each year

    Single-use plastic products now sit in the PGAREE plans filed with ANLA, with reports in Resolution 803 formats since 20252.

    Evidence to keep VITAL filing receipt.

Enforcement

Enforcement and penalties

Who enforces
Environmental authorities applying Ley 1333 de 2009 (Art. 25)1
Powers
Authorities may fine, confiscate the listed plastic items and close establishments temporarily or permanently (Art. 25)1.
Enforcement so far
SPI knows of no published sanction under Law 2232 at 14 October 2026.

Penalties

BreachPenaltyLegal basis
Breach of the Article 4 prohibitionMultas de cien (100) hasta cincuenta mil (50.000) salarios mínimos legales mensuales vigentesLey 2232 de 2022, Art. 25(1)1
Temporary closure of the establishmentno more than one monthLey 2232 de 2022, Art. 25(3)1

Fines are counted in monthly legal minimum wages in force at the time of the violation, so the peso amount moves each year (Art. 25)1. Confiscation under Article 25(2) reaches the plastic items listed in Article 5, and permanent closure is the top sanction1.

Connections

How it fits with other rules

  • Packaging EPR (Resolution 1407 of 2018) PR-CO-001
    ANLA's plan page shows the PGAREE now covers single-use plastic products as well as packaging2. The Article 17 collection goal of 50% for liquid containers by 2030 is the producer's and importer's responsibility, which in practice is reported through those plans12.
  • Ley 1973 de 2019
    Article 35 expressly keeps Law 1973 of 2019 in force when it repeals contrary provisions, so that earlier law continues alongside the national ban1.
  • Dubai single-use products regulation, final phase PR-AE-001
    Dubai's 1 January 2026 phase and Colombia's second wave both reach plastic plates, food containers and cups. Dubai exempts goods clearly marked for export (Resolution 124 of 2023, Art. 6), while Colombia's exceptions turn on use, hygiene and recycled content (Art. 5)13.
Timeline

History of the rule

  1. Law 2232 dated and promulgated1.

  2. Published in Diario Oficial 52.0891.

  3. Six-month deadline for public entities to adopt reduction actions (Art. 13)1.

  4. Twelve-month deadline for rules on substitutes, labelling and the national single-use plastic policy (Arts. 4, 7, 11)1.

  5. First wave applies; public procurement ban starts (Arts. 6 and 13)1.

  6. PET recycled content minimums of 50% (water) and 20% (other beverages) (Art. 17)1.

  7. Today

  8. PET water bottles reach 90% recycled content, HDPE recovery at least 30%, collection of liquid containers 50% (Art. 17)1.

  9. Second wave applies (Art. 6)1.

  10. Other beverage PET bottles reach 60% recycled content (Art. 17(2))1.

Questions

Questions

When does Colombia's second wave of single-use plastic bans apply?

Eight years after the law took effect, which Article 35 ties to promulgation on 7 July 2022, so in July 2030. It covers numerals 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 of Article 5, including takeaway food and drink containers, tableware and fresh-produce packaging1.

Are recycled plastic products exempt?

Products made from 100% national post-consumer recycled plastic are exempt under Article 5, paragraph, numeral 9, if certified by an accredited body. The law gave the government six months to set which bodies may certify them1.

What recycled content must PET bottles contain?

Drinking water PET bottles need at least 50% recycled material from 2025 and 90% by 2030. Other beverage bottles need 20% from 2025, 35% in 2030, 40% in 2035 and 60% in 2040, mostly national post-consumer material (Art. 17)1.

What are the fines?

Article 25 sets fines of 100 to 50,000 monthly legal minimum wages, plus confiscation and closure of up to one month or permanently. Environmental authorities apply them under Law 1333 of 20091.

Can government bodies still buy single-use plastics?

No. Since the second year of the law, about July 2024, public entities and private bodies with public functions may not contract for single-use plastics or products packed in them (Art. 13)1.

Glossary

Definitions

Plástico de un solo uso
Defined in Article 2 of Law 2232; the Article 5 list of 14 items gives the products in scope.1
Materia prima reciclada pos-consumo nacional
Recycled raw material from post-consumer waste of Colombian origin, which must make up most of the recycled share in PET bottles (Art. 17).1
Sources

Sources for this analysis

  1. Cancilleria normograma: Ley 2232 de 2022 Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  2. ANLA: Plan de gestión ambiental de residuos de envases y empaques y de residuos de productos plásticos de un solo uso Regulator · Consulted 14 October 2026
  3. Dubai Legislation Portal: Executive Council Resolution No. (124) of 2023 Regulating the Use of Single-use Products in the Emirate of Dubai Official · Consulted 14 October 2026

Written by the SPI team on 14 October 2026. Sources checked as of 14 October 2026. SPI analysis, not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

Audit trail

Change history

Verified: a second SPI team member re-checked every fact above against the source on 14 October 2026. Any later change to the facts sends the rule back to Sourced and is logged here.

  1. Verified by a second SPI team member

  2. Changed: SPI summary, rate note

  3. Verified by a second SPI team member

  4. Added to the tracker

Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-CO-002 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.

Other jurisdictions

Ban rules elsewhere

The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.

RuleWhereTypeMaterialsStatusApplies from
Ban on plastic carrier bags and flat bagsPR-KE-001KenyaBanPlasticIn force28 August 2017
France AGEC: bans on disposable straws, cutlery and other single-use itemsPR-FR-002FranceBanSingle-use plasticIn force1 January 2021
SUP Directive: ban on single-use plastic cutlery, plates, straws and EPS containersPR-EU-014European UnionBanSingle-use plasticIn force3 July 2021
Ban on identified single-use plastic itemsPR-IN-004IndiaBanPlastic, Single-use plasticIn force1 July 2022
Plastic phase-outs (stages 1 and 2)PR-NZ-001New ZealandBanPlastic, Single-use plasticIn force1 October 2022
Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SOR/2022-138)PR-CA-001CanadaBanSingle-use plasticIn force20 December 2022
England ban on single-use plastic plates, cutlery and polystyrene food containersPR-GB-006England, United KingdomBanSingle-use plasticIn force1 October 2023
Wales Single-use Plastic Products Act 2023PR-GB-007Wales, United KingdomBanSingle-use plasticIn force30 October 2023
Washington expanded polystyrene foam banPR-US-012Washington, United StatesBanPlasticIn force1 June 2024
B.C. Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention RegulationPR-CA-005British Columbia, CanadaBanSingle-use plasticIn force15 July 2024

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