CONSULTATION BRIEF
Start date: 14 March 2025
Closing date: 11 April 2025
Title of the public consultation: Prohibition of balloon releases and prohibition on use of plastic confetti and their placement on the market
Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness (MEEC)
Entity: Environment & Resources Authority (ERA)
- Background
The proposed Legal Notices seek to amend the Abandonment, Dumping and Disposal of Waste in Streets and Public Places of Areas Regulations (S.L. 549.40) and the Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Single-Use Plastic Products Regulations (S.L. 549.140) so as to bring into effect Measure 13 of the Single-Use Plastic Products Strategy for Malta (2021-2030) relating to the release of balloons and plastic confetti. Measure 13 prohibits the release of plastic confetti and balloons in open-air events in order to reduce marine litter.
The Abandonment, Dumping and Disposal of Waste in Streets and Public Places of Areas (Amendment) Regulations, 2025
The amendment will introduce new provisions into the legislation to prohibit the release of balloons and plastic confetti into the open air.
Notably, “open air” includes any open space and any covered place open to the air on at least one side. The use of alternative forms of confetti which are not made of plastic, such as biodegradable confetti and confetti made out of natural material (e.g. rice or leaves), is not being prohibited by virtue of this amendment. Furthermore, plastic confetti may still be used for indoor events, however for a limited time period as explained below.
With respect to balloons, whilst the deliberate release of balloons in open air events is prohibited, a proviso has been introduced to cater for their lawful release if they are sufficiently weighted in a manner that prevents their release into the environment outside the event organiser’s control and this to ensure that traditional balloon releases such as those carried out by certain band clubs during local village feasts are not banned.
The fines listed in regulations 10(1) and 12(3) of S.L. 549.40 will be applicable for such offence.
This amendment is proposed to be put into effect upon entry into force of the regulations – which will be two months following their publication.
The Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Single-Use Plastic Products (Amendment) Regulations, 2025
This amendment will introduce a ban on the placement on the market of plastic confetti. This is proposed to enter into force two months after the publication of the Legal Notice.
Furthermore, the amendment proposes that after 6 months, the distribution, consumption and use of plastic confetti will also be banned.
The fines listed in regulation 5(2) of S.L. 549.140 will be applicable for an offence under these regulations.
- Consultation
In line with Article 55 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), the public is invited to make submissions to ERA with their comments as to why and how these draft regulations could be amended.
- Documents
Restrictions on Placing on the Market of Single-Use Plastic Products (Amendment) Regulations, 2025
- Submission of feedback
Comments are being invited through the feedback form at publicconsultation.gov.mt or otherwise by email through [email protected].
- Further notes
Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.
All comments submitted will be duly considered.
